Lavriv L. P., Yosypenko V. R.

Bukovinian State Medical University (Chernivtsi City, Ukraine)

VARIANT ANATOMY AND TOPOGRAPHIC ANATOMICAL

FEATURES OF PAROTID GLAND HUMAN AND

PAROTID DUCT IN FETUSES

A study of the development and forming of the topography of the parotid gland (PG) during the prenatal period human ontogenesis is for great importance for integral understanding of the structural – functional organization of the salivary apparatus and the oral cavity as a whole [1-3]. The prevalence of the diseases of the salivary glands in different groups of the population makes up from 0,6 % to 1,5 % nowadays [4]. The scientific sources report different data concerning the features of parotid gland morphogenesis and formation of topography components of the parotid-masticatory area in human embryogenesis [5]. Furthermore, the data concerning normal and variant anatomy of the organs and structures of the parotid-masticatory area as well as formation of their correlations during human perinatal growth remains insufficiently studied [6-7]. The data about the parotid gland syntopy and the histogenesis of the parotid-masticatory area components are disputable and controversial.  Actually, it is the complexity of topographical and anatomical relations as well as that of histogenesis of the parotid-masticatory area components in human perinatal period which stipulates the need in their further anatomical and histological study.

The object of our research was studying the forming of the parotid gland topography and parotid duct in fetuses of the human.

Material and methods of research. The study of variant anatomy and topographical and anatomical features of the human parotid gland, and of the buccal adipose body was carried out on 28 fetuses with 130,0-375,0 mm of crown to rump length by means of fine preparation under the control of a binocular magnifier: macro- and microscopy, morphometry and 3D reconstruction.

Results. It has been established that the PG is located on the face, in a deep recess behind the branch of the lower jaw in the retromandibular fossa. Repeating the form of if its bed the PG has three surfaces (external, anterior and posterior) and two bases. The skin of this particular region is thin, movable. The subcutaneous pot is thin and fused with the skin. The posterior surface of the gland is adjacent to all those organs and tissues that constitute the posterior surface of the bed of the parotid gland. The PG capsule already well evident in fetuses of the intrauterine development. Thin connective tissue interlayers deviate from the latter inside gland. Between the outer capsule of the gland, surrounding vascular, nerve branches and fascial formations of the investigated area in 8-10 months fetuses there are tight adhesions.

The structure of the parotid gland in human fetuses is characterized by considerable anatomical variation, which shows itself in a variety of shapes (oval, leaf-like, horseshoe-shaped, triangular, irregular quadrangle), of location and syntopy. According to the results of computer 3-D modeling of the parotid glands of the fetuses aged 6-10 -month, the most practical is a 3-D description as the trilateral pyramid , which lies in the retromandibular fossa and in the lateral area of the face, turned with its base to the zygomatic arch, its vertex going  downwards  - to the angle of the mandible. Upon a preparation with the help of a binocular loupe the color of the gland is grey-yellowish similar to the color of the fat surrounding it, the gland distinguishing from it by a more, marked grey hue, a lobulous structure and greater density.

At the beginning of the period under study of the development the PG lies very close to the bony anlages up the mandible and to the anlages of the tympanic membrane. The superior margin of the PG does not reach the zygomatic arch by 1,0-3,0 mm. The anterior surface of the gland fills all the recesses of the anterior surface of the bed, occasionally giving off a process between the internal pterygoid muscle and the mandible and often over the external surface of the masseter muscle, being a very short distance off its anterior margin. In this case the gland covers its main excretory duct and masks its origin.

The parotid gland duct is formed by merging two outside organ lobular branches which (in turn) are formed by merging several superior and inferior lobular ducts emerging from the glandular tissue itself and piercing through its capsule.  The principal excretory duct of the PG leaves the gland primarily approximately in the middle of the anterior margin. On leaving the gland the duct makes its way slantwise upwards and forward, not reaching the zygomatic arch turning forward and passing horizontally over the external surface of the masseter muscle accompanied by the transverse facial artery located a little higher than the duct and the branches of the facial nerve, some of them pass over the duct of the parotid gland, others under it. Further it is directed horizontally and is located on the external surface of the masseter muscle proper. At the anterior margin of this muscle the duct forms a bend which is turned towards the front with its convexity and penetrates under the fat body (the corpus adiposum buccae). Then it proceeds ventro-medially inside, piercing the cheek muscle and opens in the vestibule of the mouth on the mucous coat of the cheek.

A number of anatomical variations were found in human fetuses both in the ratio of the buccal adipose body and the parotid duct and in its shape variety. The parotid duct may pierce the buccal adipose body or avoid it. The structure of the buccal adipose body of fetuses aged 7-10 months is characterized by a significant anatomical variation which can be seen in a variety of shapes (oval, triangular, two lobular, three lobular or as serried pyramids bases) as well as in its location. Human fetuses aged 5-10 months acquire a clear topographical location and direction of outside gland course of the parotid duct within the buccal area.   Practically all the time the parotid duct is adjacent to the external surface of the masticatory muscle proper, bending its anterior edge and, in most cases, lies on the upper medial surface of the buccal adipose body (Bishat’s fat pad).

Conclusions. According to the results of computer 3-D modeling of the parotid glands of the fetuses aged 6-10 -month, the most practical is a 3-D description as the trilateral pyramid , which lies in the retromandibular fossa and in the lateral area of the face, turned with its base to the zygomatic arch, its vertex going  downwards  - to the angle of the mandible. 8-10 -month-old fetuses had some indurations in fascial cellular masses of the glandular bed, especially in the areas of close topographical and anatomical  interrelations of organs and structures. Between the outer capsule of the gland, surrounding vascular, nerve branches and fascial formations of the investigated area in 8-10 months fetuses there are tight adhesions that should be considered during the operative  interventions within the parotid- masticatory area in newborn infants.

Active application of perinatal prevention of congenital defects requires up-to-date approaches and methods of embryonic growth study. Embryotopographic research, which takes into account specific and critical for some organs periods of their growth and some peculiarities of their interrelations with adjacent organs and structures, becomes especially important.

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