Anatomical variations and relations of the medical and lateral portions of the attic and their surgical significance.
The medial and lateral attics were examined in 150 specimens of temporal bones of adults using anatomical and histological methods. The medial attic varies in shape and size, depending upon the position of the auditory ossicles, the degree of prominence of the lateral semicircular canal and the direction in which the tympanic segment of the facial canal extends. The latero-medical diameter of this attic at the level of the body of the incus averages 1.7 mm., but is somewhat smaller at the level of the head of the malleus. The medial attic always communicates with the mesotympanum through an opening between the prominence of the tympanic part of the facial canal and the superstructures of the auditory ossicles. The lateral attic is always of smaller dimensions than the medial attic and its latero-medial diameter averages less than 1 mm. This attic very seldom communicates with the mesotympanum.
Clinic of Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Belgrade Medical School, Yugoslavia.
D
D
Savic
D
D
Djeric
D000328:Adult; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007188:Incus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008297:Male; D008307:Malleus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology*