The parotid (Stensen) duct, after crossing the masseter muscle, pierces the buccinator and opens into the oral vestibule opposite which structure?

• A Maxillary first molar
• B Maxillary canine
• C Mandibular second premolar
• D Maxillary second molar ✓

Explanation

The parotid duct emerges at the anterior border of the masseter, turns medially at the masseteric tuberosity, pierces buccinator and opens on a papilla opposite the crown of the maxillary second molar. This site is inspected when looking for pus expression in parotitis or for a stone at the duct papilla. The first molar is the common wrong answer because students confuse it with the second molar papilla used in sialography cannulation.

Reference: Dhingra's Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat, 8th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.