Tympanic grafts. An ultrastructural study.

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate the surface architecture of human tympanic membranes. The morphology of the normal eardrum was compared with the surface structure of preserved tympanic membrane (allograft), fresh air-dried fascia temporalis and preserved calf jugular vein (xenograft). The role of the physical structure and composition of the extra-cellular matrix in the restoration of a tympanic graft is discussed.