Abstract
In the course of microsurgical interventions of the middle ear a separate bony niche was frequently encountered in front of the epitympanum, situated between the middle cranial fossa and the compartment of the tensor tympani muscle. It could be identified in 13 of 22 nonselected human temporal bones. Its size and topographical relations were studied by microdissection. The average distances to the following structures were measured: internal auditory canal, anterior semicircular canal, facial and greater superficial petrosal nerves, geniculate ganglion, carotid artery, and basal turn of the cochlea. This niche, for which the term “sinus epitympani” is suggested, deserves interest because of its role as site of hidden pathology, and as a route of approach to preepitympanic structures.
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