Tim Taylor is a senior writer at Innerbody Research focusing on human anatomy and physiology. Tim earned both his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and his Master's degree in Teaching from the University of Pittsburgh.
The parotid gland is the largest of the three major pairs of salivary glands. It is located anteriorly and inferiorly to the ear between the skin and the muscle of chewing, the masseter. The parotid duct carries its contents and drains into the mouth. It is the parotid gland that becomes swollen and infected with the mumps or parotitis.
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