[Connections between bone marrow and mesenchyme of the middle ear].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the presence of connections between the bone marrow of the ossicles and the mesenchyme that fills the future tympanic cavity.


METHODS
Ninety temporal bones from embryos and foetuses were examined, selecting 15 aged between 20th to 30th weeks of development, to show connections between ossicle marrow and mesenchyme.


RESULTS
The connections are transitory and appear in the malleus and the incus between 20th to 24th weeks of development, while in the stapes appear later, being between 24th to 28th weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
These connections may have an important role in the phagocytosis of the mesenchymal remains and join in the detritus elimination mechanisms produced during the regression.
Whyte Orozco
Jaime Rafael
JR
Departamento de Anatomía e Histología Humanas, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, España. jwhyte@unizar.es
Cisneros Gimeno
Ana Isabel
AI
Pérez Sanz
Raúl
R
Yus Gotor
Carmen
C
Gañet Solé
José Francisco
JF
Sarrat Torres
Marco Antonio
MA
D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology*; D004429:Ear Ossicles / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology*; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008648:Mesoderm