title: The petromastoid canal.
abstract: The embryology and anatomy of the petromastoid canal is reviewed. This structure may be responsible for the passage of some infections of the middle ear cleft into the posterior fossa. It also transmits important blood vessels to a portion of the bony labyrinth, to the facial canal, and to the mucosa of the mastoid air cell system.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000098:blood supply; D005333:Fetus; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008416:Mastoid / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000196:embryology; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000209:etiology; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000209:etiology; D010579:Petrous Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000196:embryology