Microvascular networks in tympanic membrane, malleus periosteum, and annulus perichondrium of neonatal mongrel dog: a vasculoanatomic model for surgical considerations.
India-ink-imaged blood-vessel networks in cleared tympanic membranes and adnexa from ten neonatal dogs were examined microscopically and photographed. The major significance of the study lies in documentation of a dual source of arterial supply, a bilaminar relationship of arterial and venous plexuses intrinsic to the tympanic membrane, and a consistent major venous pathway relative to a definite locus (pars flaccida of the membrane). Illustration of all three types of blood pathways (arteries, veins, and capillaries) provides new vasculoanatomic data that are essential to ear surgery, specifically--to myringotomies and myringoplasties. A comparison was made between dog and human tympanic membrane structures and their arterial supplies. Close similarities suggested that dog tympanic membrane might serve as a suitable model for development of innovative surgical procedures and as a model for rehearsal of difficult techniques. The results of this investigation provide a valuable caveat to otologists.
Maher
W P
WP
Department of Anatomy and Cellular Biology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000098:blood supply; D004285:Dogs; D004429:Ear Ossicles / Q000098:blood supply*; D013502:General Surgery / Q000379:methods; D008307:Malleus / Q000098:blood supply*; D008833:Microcirculation; D010521:Periosteum / Q000098:blood supply*; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery; D014680:Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology