Corpus: Retromandibular fossa

The retromandibular fossa is an anatomical space defined by adjacent muscles and bones that contains various vessels, nerves and parts of the parotid gland. It is located at the transition from the head to the neck.

• Cranial - Meatus acusticus externus
• Ventral - ramus mandibulae
• Medial - Pharynx (Spatium lateropharyngeum)
• Dorsal - sternocleidomastoid muscle
• Caudal - digastric and stylohyoid muscles

The following structures are located in the retromandibular fossa:

• Glandula parotidea: The parotid gland is divided into a superficial and a deep part by the retromandibular vein and the plexus of the facial nerve.
• Retromandibular vein: The retromandibular vein arises from the confluence of the maxillary veins and the superficial temporal veins. It flows into the internal jugular vein.
• Parotid plexus: In the parotid gland, the facial nerve splits into its branches to the mimic musculature as the intraparotid plexus.
• Parotid duct: The parotid duct, the excretory duct of the parotid gland, runs in the lodge above the masseter muscle and then breaks through the buccinator muscle. It opens opposite the second upper molar.
• External carotid artery: The division of the external carotid artery into its end branches, the maxillary artery and the superficial temporal artery, takes place in the parotid lodge.
• Auriculotemporal nerve: The auriculotemporal nerve is a branch of the mandibular nerve and runs from the retromandibular fossa to the temporal region.
• Superficial and deep lymph nodes

The skin over the retromandibular fossa is supplied by the anterior ramus of the auricular nerve.

Swelling of the parotid gland, for example in the context of parotitis epidemica (mumps), leads to painful nerve irritation by increasing the pressure in the retromandibular fossa.