Stensen's duct

(Niels Stensen (Nicolaus Steno), 1638 - 1686, Danish physician, anatomist in Italy), excretory duct of the parotid gland, about 7 cm long, which courses anteriorly over the masseter muscle and buccal fat pad, and then bends medially to pierce the buccinator muscle, ending intraorally at the level of the second maxillary molar. Stensen's duct may receive a minor duct originating from accessory parotid gland tissue at the level of the masseter muscle. Pathology of Stensen's duct is mainly related to sialolithiasis, sialadenitis and sialodochitis, and trauma (see parotid gland).

RH