Monteiro João Carlos Castro, Ennes Jussara Peixoto, Zorzatto José Roberto
University of São Leopoldo Mandic, Brazil.
Cranio. 2011 Oct;29(4):284-90. doi: 10.1179/crn.2011.042.
The petrotympanic fissure, a narrow slit in the temporal bone, allows the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the middle ear to communicate. Both the chorda tympani and the ligament cross the fissure between the posterior region of the joint disk and the malleolar ossicle. The parasympathetic fibers of the chorda tympani spread into the major salivary glands and are responsible for the taste sensibility on the anterior two-thirds of the tongue. After chronological identification of 30 human skulls, petrotympanic fissures were macroscopically and stereomicroscopically analyzed for the presence and disposition of ossification areas. Digitalized images were analyzed using computer program UTHSCSA ImageTool 3.0 (developed by the Department of Dental Diagnostic Science at The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas). The total extension of the fissures and ossification areas was measured. The macroscopic analysis did not constitute an appropriated method for this evaluation and the ossification of the fissures increased with aging, suggesting its influence on the causes of otalgia in cases of TMJ dysfunction.
岩鼓裂是颞骨中的一条狭窄缝隙，它使颞下颌关节（TMJ）与中耳相通。鼓索和韧带均穿过关节盘后部与锤骨小骨之间的裂隙。鼓索的副交感纤维分布到主要唾液腺，并负责舌前三分之二的味觉感知。在按年代顺序鉴定了30个人类颅骨后，对岩鼓裂进行了宏观和体视显微镜分析，以确定骨化区域的存在和分布情况。使用计算机程序UTHSCSA ImageTool 3.0（由德克萨斯大学健康科学中心圣安东尼奥分校牙科诊断科学系开发）对数字化图像进行分析。测量了裂隙和骨化区域的总长度。宏观分析并非适用于此评估的方法，并且裂隙的骨化随年龄增长而增加，这表明其对颞下颌关节功能障碍病例中耳痛原因的影响。
