
What is the Stensen duct in anatomy?
Anatomical terminology. The parotid duct or Stensen duct is a duct and the route that saliva takes from the major salivary gland, the parotid gland, into the mouth. Click to see full answer.
Why is the parotid duct called Stensen duct?
The parotid duct is named after Nicolas Steno (1638–1686), also known as Niels Stensen, a Danish anatomist (albeit best known as a geologist) credited with its detailed description in 1660. This is where the alternative name "Stensen duct" originates from. Outline of side of face, showing chief surface markings.
What causes Stensen's duct to be blocked?
Obstruction of Stensen's duct usually by a stone is usual [7]. Stensen's duct papilla was identified and saliva was expressed by digital manoeuvre, confirming that it was not damaged. Stensen's duct was lavaged using either saline or a steroid solution.
Where does the Stensen's duct cross the mandible?
The Stensen's duct, then, crosses horizontally off the anterior margin of the ramus of the mandible, passes laterally to the masseter muscle, goes around its anterior margin and through the buccinator muscle to end up into the oral cavity (Jebejian & Hajenlian, 1993; Gleeson, 1997).

What is the duct of Rivinus?
Despite its name, it is not a single duct, but numerous small ducts all of which open into the floor of the mouth and are collectively termed the duct of Rivinus.
What is the submandibular duct?
The submandibular duct or Wharton duct or submaxillary duct, is one of the salivary excretory ducts. It is about 5 cm. long, and its wall is much thinner than that of the parotid duct. It drains saliva from each bilateral submandibular gland and sublingual gland to the sublingual caruncle at the base of the tongue.
What is the parotid duct?
Anatomical terminology. The parotid duct or Stensen duct is a duct and the route that saliva takes from the major salivary gland, the parotid gland, into the mouth.
How long is the parotid duct?
Similarly, how long is the parotid duct? The parotid gland is drained by the parotid duct which normally measures 50 mm in length and 3 mm in width. The parotid duct emerges at the anterior border of the gland and runs horizontally across the masseter muscle to pierce the buccinator and open into the vestibule of the mouth.
Where is the major duct of the digestive system?
human digestive system major duct of each (Wharton's duct) opens into the floor of the mouth at the junction where the front of the tongue meets the mouth's floor.
What happens when saliva cannot flow through a duct?
When saliva cannot flow through a duct, it backs up in the gland, causing swelling and pain. Other common symptoms include tenderness and swelling in your face, mouth, or neck. You may also have a dry mouth and trouble swallowing or opening your mouth.
Where is the thoracic ducta duct?
thoracic ducta duct beginning in the cisterna chyli and emptying into the venous system at the junction of the left subclavian and left internal jugular veins. It acts as a channel for the collection of lymph from the portions of the body below the diaphragm and from the left side of the body above the diaphragm.
What is the name of the duct that emptys into the mouth?
paramesonephric duct müllerian duct. paraurethral d's Skene's glands. parotid duct the duct by which the parotid glands empty into the mouth. prostatic d's minute ducts from the prostate, opening into or near the prostatic sinuses on the posterior wall of the urethra.
What is the secretory duct of the gallbladder?
The secretory duct of the gallbladder. It unites with the hepatic duct from the liver to form the common bile duct. See: biliary tractfor illus
What is the ejaculatory duct?
ejaculatory ductthe duct formed by union of the ductus deferens and the duct of the seminal vesicles, opening into the prostatic urethra on the colliculus seminalis.
What is the common bile ducta duct formed by?
common bile ducta duct formed by the union of the cystic and hepatic ducts; see also bile ducts.
What is the name of the duct that leads into the pancreatic duct?
A duct of the pancreas leading into the pancreatic duct or the duodenum near the mouth of the common bile duct. Synonym: duct of Santorini
Which duct is the embryonic duct of the mesonephros?
mesonephric ductan embryonic duct of the mesonephros, which in the male becomes the epididymis, ductus deferens and its ampulla, seminal vesicles, and ejaculatory duct, and in the female is largely obliterated.
What is the parotid duct?
Anatomical terminology. The parotid duct or Stensen duct is a duct and the route that saliva takes from the major salivary gland, the parotid gland, into the mouth.
Where is the parotid duct located?
It emerges from the gland and runs forward along the lateral side of the masseter muscle. In this course, the duct is surrounded by the buccal fat pad. It takes a steep turn at the border of the masseter and passes through the buccinator muscle, opening into the vestibule of the mouth, the region of the mouth between the cheek and the gums, at the parotid papilla, which lies across the second Maxillary (upper) molar tooth.
What is the parotid duct?
The parotid duct, also known as Stensen duct , drains saliva from the parotid gland into the oral cavity. It primarily secretes serous saliva. On this page:
Where is the parotid duct located?
The parotid duct passes anteriorly through the buccal fat superficial to the masseter muscle and over its anterior border, then through the buccopharyngeal fascia and the buccinator muscle. It then continues between the buccal mucosa and the buccinator to its opening in the vestibule of the mouth, located next to the upper second molar tooth at ...

Overview
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 inside the parotid gland, join. It emerges from the parotid gland. It runs forward along the lateral side of the masseter muscle for around 7 cm. In this course, the duct is surrounded by the buccal fat pad. It takes a steep turn at the border of the masseter and passes through the buccinator muscle, opening into the vestibule of the mouth, the region of the mouth between the cheek and the gums, at the paroti…
Clinical significance
Blockage, whether caused by salivary duct stones or external compression, may cause pain and swelling of the parotid gland (parotitis).
Koplik's spots which are pathognomonic of measles are found near the opening of the parotid duct.
The parotid duct may be cannulated by inserting a tube through the internal orifice in the mouth. Dye may be injected to allow for imaging of the parotid duct.
History
The parotid duct is named after Nicolas Steno (1638–1686), also known as Niels Stensen, a Danish anatomist (albeit best known as a geologist) credited with its detailed description in 1660. This is where the alternative name "Stensen duct" originates from.
See also
• Parotid gland
• Parotitis
Further reading
• Casseri GC (1627). Tabulae anatomicae, lxxiix. Venetis.
• Stensen N (1662). Observationes anatomicae, quibus varia oris, oculorum & narium vas describuntur novique salivae, lacrymarum & muci fontes deteguntur. Lugduni Batavorum: J. Chouët.
External links
• Diagram at MSU
• ent/178 at eMedicine - Parotid duct injuries
• doctor/2052 at Who Named It?