Measurements of the stapes superstructure.

Ten human stapes from fresh temporal bones were measured to obtain relevant distances of the stapes superstructure. The dimensions of the parts of the superstructure are as follows: 1) stapes head 1.14 mm (range, 0.91 to 1.49) in diameter parallel to the axis of the footplate and 0.83 mm (range, 0.65 to 1.08) perpendicular to it; 2) stapes head to shoulders 0.93 mm (range, 0.81 to 1.07), head to foramen 1.26 mm (range, 1.15 to 1.39), and head to lateral surface of stapes footplate 3.19 mm (range, 2.91 to 3.45); 3) neck width parallel to the axis of the footplate 1.18 mm (range, 0.88 to 1.47) and 0.64 mm (range, 0.48 to 0.88) perpendicular to it; 4) anterior crus 0.58 mm wide (range, 0.41 to 0.74) at the shoulder of the arch and 0.51 mm (range, 0.39 to 0.65) closer to the stapes footplate; 5) posterior crus 0.65 mm wide (range, 0.46 to 0.77) at the shoulder of the arch and 0.55 mm (range, 0.38 to 0.75) closer to the stapes footplate; and 6) maximum width of entire superstructure near footplate 2.48 mm (range, 2.06 to 2.98).