title: Micro-CT analysis of the anatomical characteristics of the stapedial annular ligament.
abstract: The oval window region has recently been identified as a potential route for drug diffusion into the inner ear. Locally applied gadolinium and trimethylphenylammonium (TMPA) have been shown to directly diffuse into the vestibule through the oval window region. Given the potential importance of the oval window region in the diffusion of substances into the inner ear, this work aimed to use micro-CT to obtain a data set of anatomical characteristics of the annular ligament of the stapes in the human temporal bone, a region thus far poorly studied. Twenty-one temporal bones were micro-dissected to preserve the otic capsule and allow perfusion of fixative stains into the inner ear. The specimens were scanned with micro-CT methods to provide 3D reconstructions and measurement. The 3D reconstructions were able to demonstrate an undisturbed stapes footplate and annular ligament from which measurements could be taken. This study found a wide variance in the volumes and thicknesses of the stapedial ligaments. There was a positive correlation between the size of the stapes footplate and the annular ligament.
authors.affiliation: Deafness Research, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, Pacific Hwy, Sydney, NSW, 2065, Australia. dr.aydin.mohammadi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Aydin
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4272-2733
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.affiliation: Deafness Research, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, Pacific Hwy, Sydney, NSW, 2065, Australia.|Discipline of Surgery, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jufas
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sale
authors.affiliation: Deafness Research, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, Pacific Hwy, Sydney, NSW, 2065, Australia.
authors.forename: Kirsti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Deafness Research, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, Pacific Hwy, Sydney, NSW, 2065, Australia.|Discipline of Surgery, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Nirmal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Leary
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013199:Stapes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
keywords: Ear; Labyrinth; Otolaryngology; Oval window; Stapes; Vestibule; X-ray microtomography