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Dissection of left ear from superior aspect

Relations of tympanic cavity, facial canal and vestibule

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Image #61-6
Diagram Image
Legend Image
Dissection of left ear from superior aspect
Relations of tympanic cavity, facial canal and vestibule
The lateral semicircular canal has been cut away and the vestibule widely opened. The facial canal has been opened and it course above the posterior part of the tympanic cavity shown.
  1. Stapedius nerve and muscle
  2. Tympanic sinus
  3. Facial nerve (VII) (within facial canal)
  4. Vestibule
  5. Vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII) (vestibular part) (superior and inferior branches)
  6. Internal acoustic meatus
  7. Vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII) (cochlear part)
  8. Modiolus
  9. Upper pointer: Central end of facial nerve (Vll) (cut off) Lower pointer: Geniculate ganglion
  10. Upper pointer: Tendon of tensor tympani muscle Lower pointer: Tympanic membrane
  11. Major superficial petrosal nerve
  12. Minor superficial petrosal nerve
  13. Chorda tympani
  14. Internal carotid artery
  15. Middle meningeal artery
  16. Otic ganglion
  17. Mandibular nerve (V)
  18. Tympanic antrum
  19. Short crus of incus
  20. External acoustic meatus (note transition from thick to thin skin at junction of cartilaginous and bony parts of wall of meatus)
  21. Upper pointer: Manubrium of malleus Lower pointer: Capitulum of malleus
  22. Veins of external auditory meatus tributary to posterior facial vein
  23. Articular disc
  24. Capitulum (condylar process) of mandible
  25. External pterygoid muscle