title: The fallopian canal: a comprehensive review and proposal of a new classification.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The facial nerve follows a complex course through the skull base. Understanding its anatomy is crucial during standard skull base approaches and resection of certain skull base tumors closely related to the nerve, especially, tumors at the cerebellopontine angle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Herein, we review the fallopian canal and its implications in surgical approaches to the skull base. Furthermore, we suggest a new classification.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the anatomy and literature, we propose that the meatal segment of the facial nerve be included as a component of the fallopian canal. A comprehensive knowledge of the course of the facial nerve is important to those who treat patients with pathology of or near this cranial nerve.
authors: Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors: M M
authors: MM
authors: Mortazavi
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Latif
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Verma
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Adeeb
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Deep
authors: C J
authors: CJ
authors: Griessenauer
authors: R S
authors: RS
authors: Tubbs
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Fukushima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002530:Cerebellopontine Angle / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply / Q000196:embryology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008416:Mastoid / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D011247:Pregnancy; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D019291:Skull Base / Q000601:surgery; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000196:embryology; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000033:anatomy & histology