title: Development of the protympanum.
abstract: The protympanum, the only opening of the tympanic cavity, has enormous significance in the pathogenesis of middle ear inflammation. In our study, we analyzed 70 macerated temporal bones stereomicroscopically to understand the development of the protympanum. Details of this embryonic process were attained using histological sections made in frontal and horizontal planes. In contrast to recent descriptions, the present work reveals that almost the entire protympanum develops from different processes of the petrous bone. The tympanic bone takes part in forming only the posterior border of the lateral wall of the protympanum. Consequently the tympanic plate, which forms the inferior half of the mandibular fossa, is formed by two anlages. The anterosuperior quarter is formed by the petrous bone and the remainder by the tympanic bone. The main structures of the medial wall of the protympanum are the carotid canal with the internal carotid artery (ICA). The carotid canal starts to develop as two laminae of the petrous bone in the 18th fetal week. In cases of incomplete closure of these laminae the carotid canal occupies dehiscences increasing the danger of injury to the ICA. The presence of the ICA is necessary for the development of the carotid canal. If the artery takes an aberrant pathway in the tympanic cavity, or is absent, there is no sign of the carotid canal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Morphology and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Tuzolto u. 58, 1094 Budapest, Hungary. tothm@ana.sote.hu
authors.forename: Miklós
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tóth
authors.forename: Teréz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Medvegy
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moser
authors.forename: Lajos
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Patonay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D047108:Embryonic Development; D047109:Fetal Development; D007839:Functional Laterality; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn