Mastoid canals in adult human skulls.
Mastoid canals (tunnels) were observed in 41 (7.7%) of 265 dry human skulls. The canals were 2-27 mm long. This feature has not been reported before. dissection of 30 mastoid regions in cadavers showed that the canals contained a branch of the occipital artery and a vein. It is possible that during development of the mastoid process the squamous temporal bone ossifies over the vessels, giving rise to the canals.
Choudhry
R
R
Department of Anatomy, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, India.
Raheja
S
S
Gaur
U
U
Choudhry
S
S
Anand
C
C
D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008416:Mastoid / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009132:Muscles / Q000098:blood supply; D009333:Neck; D012535:Scalp; D014680:Veins; D044465:White People