Dissection of ear from lateral aspect

Petrotympanic fissure; relation of cartilaginous part of left external auditory meatus to tympanic part of temporal bone

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Image #60-2

Dissection of ear from lateral aspect

Petrotympanic fissure; relation of cartilaginous part of left external auditory meatus to tympanic part of temporal bone

The capsule of the temporomandibular articulation has been removed. The tympanic ring produces a noticeable bulge of the bone lateral to the petrotympanic fissure. The squamous part of the temporal bone has been cut away and the cerebral hemisphere removed. The brain stem is visible in the background.

1. Tympanosquamous fissure
2. Petrotympanic fissure
3. Elevation at site of tympanic annulus
4. Temporal bone (squamous part)
5. Middle meningeal artery within foramen spinosum
6. Sphenosquamous suture
7. Mandibular nerve (V) in foramen ovale
8. Masseteric nerve
9. Upper pointer: Angular spine Lower pointer: Alar fascia
10. Auriculotemporal nerve
11. Internal maxillary nerve plexus
12. Internal maxillary artery
13. Lingual nerve
14. Inferior alveolar nerve
15. Ceruminous gland
16. Mastoid cells
17. External acoustic meatus
18. Upper pointer: Cartilaginous acoustic meatus Lower pointer: Incisure of external cartilaginous acoustic meatus
19. Facial nerve (VII) at exit from stylomastoid foramen
20. Styloid process
21. Posterior auricular nerve (displaced)
22. Superficial temporal artery
23. Lymph node
24. Digastric muscle
25. Posterior auricular artery