title: Microscopic anatomy of the carotid canal and its relations with cochlea and middle ear.
abstract: The knowledge of the relations between the noble and vital structures of temporal bone is still a great challenge for the otologic surgeon. The microscopic anatomic studies of the temporal bone are one of the greatest help to prevent lesions during surgical intervention.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the anatomic correlations between the carotid canal and the cochlea, and the occurrence of dehiscence of the carotid canal in the middle ear tympanic cavity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Microscopic study of 122 human temporal bones.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average distance between the carotid canal and the cochlea were: the shortest distance, 1.05 mm; basal turn, 2.04 mm; middle turn, 2.32 mm; and apical turn, 5.70 mm. The occurrence of dehiscence of the carotid canal inside the tympanic cavity was 35.2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The small distances between the cochlea and carotid canal, and the high incidence of dehiscence in the tympanic cavity remind us that anatomical knowledge of the temporal bone is required for the best qualification of otologists.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Escola Paulista de Medicina.
authors.forename: Norma de Oliveira
authors.initials: Nde O
authors.lastname: Penido
authors.forename: Andrei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borin
authors.forename: Yotaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: Cristina Navarro Santos
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Lion
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002648:Child; D003051:Cochlea / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure*