title: [The ear ossicle joints in the scanning electron microscopy image].
abstract: The incudo-stapedial joint has mostly been accepted as a true diarthrotic joint. In the older literature, however, the histological structure of the incudo-malleal joint has been controversial. Its character as a true joint has been stressed only by the sporadic histologic studies in the recent decades. Although SEM, with its spatial image and high magnification, is especially suitable for the investigation of joint surfaces--as orthopaedic studies have shown--this modern method has so far not been used for studying the ossicular joints. Even in high magnification, the normal ossicular joints show smooth surfaces similar to the typical big joints of the body. To maintain this high degree of differentiation of the delicate hyaline cartilage, a balanced equilibrium of strain and relief must be kept. Nature seems to attach great importance to the postulated protective role of the human ossicular joints.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002682:Chinchilla; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D004429:Ear Ossicles / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008875:Middle Aged; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen
vernacular_title: Die Gelenke der Gehörknöchelchen im rasterelektronenmikroskopischen Bild.