The parotid fascia (or parotid capsule) is a tough

fascia A fascia (; : fasciae or fascias; adjective fascial; ) is a generic term for macroscopic membranous bodily structures. Fasciae are classified as superficial, visceral or deep, and further designated according to their anatomical location. ...

enclosing the

parotid gland The parotid gland is a major salivary gland in many animals. In humans, the two parotid glands are present on either side of the mouth and in front of both ears. They are the largest of the salivary glands. Each parotid is wrapped around the m ...

. It has a superficial layer and a deep layer. Current scientific knowledge regards the superficial layer to be continuous with the fascia of the platysma, and the deep layer to be derived from the

deep cervical fascia The deep cervical fascia (or fascia colli in older texts) lies under cover of the platysma, and invests the muscles of the neck; it also forms sheaths for the carotid vessels, and for the structures situated in front of the vertebral column. Its ...

. Previously, both layers were thought to derive from the deep cervical fascia which was thought to form the parotid fascia by extending superior-ward and splitting into the superficial layer and deep layer. The superficial layer was traditionally described as attaching superiorly to the

zygomatic process The zygomatic processes (aka. malar) are three processes (protrusions) from other bones of the skull which each articulate with the zygomatic bone. The three processes are: * Zygomatic process of frontal bone from the frontal bone * Zygomatic ...

of the temporal bone, the cartilaginous portion of the external acoustic meatus, and the

mastoid process of the temporal bone The mastoid part of the temporal bone is the posterior (back) part of the temporal bone, one of the bones of the skull. Its rough surface gives attachment to various muscles (via tendons) and it has openings for blood vessels. From its borders, t ...

; the deep layer was described as attaching superiorly to the mandible, and the tympanic plate, styloid process and

mastoid process The mastoid part of the temporal bone is the posterior (back) part of the temporal bone, one of the bones of the skull. Its rough surface gives attachment to various muscles (via tendons) and it has openings for blood vessels. From its borders, t ...

of the temporal bone.

Structure

The parotid fascia reduces in thickness anteroposteriorly; it is thick and fibrous anteriorly, while being thin, translucent and membranous posteriorly. The parotid fascia extends anteriorly over the masseteric fascia as a separate layer; the two fasciae are separated by a cellular layer enclosing the branches of the facial nerve (CN VII) and the

parotid duct The parotid duct or Stensen duct is a salivary duct. It is the route that saliva takes from the major salivary gland, the parotid gland, into the mouth. Structure The parotid duct is formed when several interlobular ducts, the largest ducts insid ...

. The fascia issues many septae that passes among the lobules of glandular tissue.Parotid fascia borders and location
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Histology

The parotid fascia is histologically atypical in that it contains muscles fibres parallel to those of the platysma, particularly in its inferior portion.

Innervation

The

great auricular nerve The great auricular nerve is a Cutaneous nerve, cutaneous (sensory) nerve of the head. It originates from the second and third spinal nerve, cervical (spinal) nerves (C2-C3) of the cervical plexus. It provides sensory innervation to the skin over ...

provides sensory innervation to the parotid fascia.

Relations

The

external carotid artery The external carotid artery is the major artery of the head and upper neck. It arises from the common carotid artery. It terminates by splitting into the superficial temporal and maxillary artery within the parotid gland. Structure Origin T ...

pierces the deep lamina of the parotid fascia to enter the parotid gland and divide into its terminal branches within its substance of the gland. The

risorius muscle The risorius muscle is a highly variable muscle of facial expression. It has numerous and very variable origins, and inserts into the angle of the mouth. It receives motor innervation from branches of facial nerve (CN VII). It may be absent or a ...

arises from the parotid fascia.

References

Fascial spaces of the head and neck {{anatomy-stub