Holt James J
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield, Wisconsin 54449, USA.
Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2011 Feb;120(2):95-8. doi: 10.1177/000348941112000204.
This study of the posterior tympanum was performed to better define the anatomy of this complex area of the middle ear. A sinus previously not described was examined.
The posterior tympanum of 49 temporal bones was studied by microscopic techniques. The sinus depth, the opening into the sinus, and the relationship of the facial nerve to the sinus were documented.
A sinus lying in the superior part of the posterior tympanum was discovered: the superior mesotympanic sinus. The depth of the sinus was from 0.5 to 2 mm, and it was present in 42 of the 49 specimens (86%). The superior border of the sinus is the facial nerve, which was dehiscent in 9 cases.
The surgeon can remove disease with more confidence from the tympanum if he or she knows that disease may harbor in this sinus, and that injury to the facial nerve must be avoided.
进行这项关于鼓室后部的研究，以更好地明确中耳这个复杂区域的解剖结构。对一个先前未被描述的窦进行了检查。
采用显微技术对49块颞骨的鼓室后部进行研究。记录了窦的深度、进入窦的开口以及面神经与窦的关系。
在鼓室后部的上部发现了一个窦：上中鼓室窦。窦的深度为0.5至2毫米，49个标本中有42个（86%）存在该窦。窦的上边界是面神经，9例面神经裸露。
如果外科医生知道疾病可能隐匿在这个窦中，并且必须避免对面神经造成损伤，那么他或她在从鼓室清除疾病时会更有信心。
