Parotid Branches of the Auriculotemporal Nerve: An Anatomical Study With Implications for Frey Syndrome. 2017

Joe Iwanaga, and Christian Fisahn, and Koichi Watanabe, and Samuel L Bobek, and Kinuko Ogata, and Ryuichiro Tanoue, and Jingo Kusukawa, and Rod J Oskouian, and R Shane Tubbs
*Seattle Science Foundation, Seattle, WA †Department of Anatomy, Kurume University School of Medicine ‡Dental and Oral Medical Center, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan §Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Swedish Medical Center ||Swedish Maxillofacial Surgery, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA.

The auriculotemporal nerve is one of the many branches of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve. Of these, its superficial temporal branch has been most described. Although the parotid branches, secretomotor fibers to the parotid gland, are well known as the cause of Frey syndrome, there have been almost no descriptions of their anatomy. In this study, the authors dissected the parotid branches of the auriculotemporal nerve to elucidate their anatomy. A total of 10 sides from 7 adult and embalmed cadaver heads were used in this study. The specimens were derived from 3 males and 4 females, the age of cadavers at death ranged from 65 to 92 years old. Measurements included their diameter and the distance of their branching point from the main trunk of the auriculotemporal nerve from the middle of the tragus. Three of 10 sides had 2 parotid branches and 7 sides were found to have 1 parotid branch. The vertical distance between middle of the tragus to branching point of the parotid branch ranged from 1.79 to 16.17 mm. The horizontal distance between middle of the tragus to branching point of the parotid branch ranged from 3.03 to 12.62 mm. The diameter of the parotid branch ranged from 0.31 to 0.49 mm. An improved knowledge of the parotid branch of the auriculotemporal nerve might decrease injury to these structures with the potential for postoperative.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008334 Mandible The largest and strongest bone of the FACE constituting the lower jaw. It supports the lower teeth. Mylohyoid Groove,Mylohyoid Ridge,Groove, Mylohyoid,Grooves, Mylohyoid,Mandibles,Mylohyoid Grooves,Mylohyoid Ridges,Ridge, Mylohyoid,Ridges, Mylohyoid
D008340 Mandibular Nerve A branch of the trigeminal (5th cranial) nerve. The mandibular nerve carries motor fibers to the muscles of mastication and sensory fibers to the teeth and gingivae, the face in the region of the mandible, and parts of the dura. Alveolar Nerve, Inferior,Auriculotemporal Nerve,Buccal Nerve,Deep Temporal Nerve,Lateral Pterygoid Nerve,Masseteric Nerve,Mental Nerve,Mylohyoid Nerve,Auriculotemporal Nerves,Buccal Nerves,Deep Temporal Nerves,Inferior Alveolar Nerve,Inferior Alveolar Nerves,Lateral Pterygoid Nerves,Mandibular Nerves,Masseteric Nerves,Mental Nerves,Mylohyoid Nerves,Nerve, Auriculotemporal,Nerve, Buccal,Nerve, Deep Temporal,Nerve, Inferior Alveolar,Nerve, Lateral Pterygoid,Nerve, Mandibular,Nerve, Masseteric,Nerve, Mental,Nerve, Mylohyoid,Pterygoid Nerve, Lateral,Pterygoid Nerves, Lateral,Temporal Nerve, Deep,Temporal Nerves, Deep
D010306 Parotid Gland The largest of the three pairs of SALIVARY GLANDS. They lie on the sides of the FACE immediately below and in front of the EAR. Gland, Parotid,Glands, Parotid,Parotid Glands
D002102 Cadaver A dead body, usually a human body. Corpse,Cadavers,Corpses
D005154 Facial Nerve The 7th cranial nerve. The facial nerve has two parts, the larger motor root which may be called the facial nerve proper, and the smaller intermediate or sensory root. Together they provide efferent innervation to the muscles of facial expression and to the lacrimal and SALIVARY GLANDS, and convey afferent information for TASTE from the anterior two-thirds of the TONGUE and for TOUCH from the EXTERNAL EAR. Cranial Nerve VII,Marginal Mandibular Branch,Marginal Mandibular Nerve,Seventh Cranial Nerve,Nerve VII,Nerve of Wrisberg,Nervus Facialis,Nervus Intermedius,Nervus Intermedius of Wrisberg,Cranial Nerve VIIs,Cranial Nerve, Seventh,Facial Nerves,Mandibular Nerve, Marginal,Mandibular Nerves, Marginal,Marginal Mandibular Nerves,Nerve VIIs,Nerve, Facial,Nerve, Marginal Mandibular,Nerve, Seventh Cranial,Nerves, Marginal Mandibular,Nervus Faciali,Seventh Cranial Nerves,Wrisberg Nerve,Wrisberg Nervus Intermedius
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D000369 Aged, 80 and over Persons 80 years of age and older. Oldest Old

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