title: Morpho-functional partition of the middle ear cleft.
abstract: The observation of an inter-attico-tympanic diaphragm in the middle ear (ME) cleft and the functional histology of the mucosa lead to a concept of ME morpho-functional partition. There are two separate compartments: an antero-inferior one, principally devoted to the muco-ciliary clearance function, and a postero-superior one, more devoted to the gas exchange function. With this concept of partition the mechanisms involved in the pathogeny of "otitis media" can be better understood.
authors.affiliation: Dept. ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Antwerp, UZA, Belgium.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ars
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ars-Piret
mesh_terms: D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance