Spiral Form of the Human Cochlea Results from Spatial Constraints.

The human inner ear has an intricate spiral shape often compared to shells of mollusks, particularly to the nautilus shell. It has inspired many functional hearing theories. The reasons for this complex geometry remain unresolved. We digitized 138 human cochleae at microscopic resolution and observed an astonishing interindividual variability in the shape. A 3D analytical cochlear model was developed that fits the analyzed data with high precision. The cochlear geometry neither matched a proposed function, namely sound focusing similar to a whispering gallery, nor did it have the form of a nautilus. Instead, the innate cochlear blueprint and its actual ontogenetic variants were determined by spatial constraints and resulted from an efficient packing of the cochlear duct within the petrous bone. The analytical model predicts well the individual 3D cochlear geometry from few clinical measures and represents a clinical tool for an individualized approach to neurosensory restoration with cochlear implants.

Topography of the chorda tympani nerve and the tensor tympani muscle in carnivores provides a new synapomorphy for Herpestidae (Carnivora, Mammalia).

The topographical relationship of the chorda tympani nerve (chorda tympani) to the tensor tympani muscle in the middle ear of carnivores provides new phylogenetic information. The examination of histological serial sections of 16 carnivore species representing most families revealed two distinct character states concerning the course of the chorda tympani: a hypotensoric state with the nerve running below the insertion tendon of the tensor tympani muscle, and an epitensoric state with the nerve running above the tendon. The shift from the plesiomorphic hypotensoric chorda tympani to the apomorphic epitensoric condition occurred once in carnivore phylogeny: Only in the herpestid species under study does the chorda tympani cross above the tensor tympani muscle. Therefore, we introduce the epitensoric pattern as a new synapomorphy for herpestids. Within the herpestids we find the following structural distinctions: Herpestes javanicus and Galerella sanguinea have a chorda tympani running in a sulcus directly above the insertion of the tensor tympani muscle, whereas in the eusocial herpestid species Suricata suricatta and Mungos mungo the chorda tympani lies far above the insertion of the muscle.

Heat radiation during caloric vestibular test: thermographic demonstration in temporal bone experiments.

Since Barany's descriptions in 1906, cold and warm irrigations of the external ear canal have been used for unilaterally testing vestibular excitability. The fluid kinetics within the endolymph have been studied thoroughly, whereas relatively few published articles deal with the mechanisms of heat transfer from the external to the internal ear. Even though heat conduction via the bone seemed to be well established in the textbooks, Feldmann and co-workers found heat radiation to be a very important factor. Using a rather uncommon method, we tried to make this heat radiation more apparent: in temporal bone experiments, temperature distribution was followed by thermography. Temporal bone specimens were prepared in such a way that heat distributions became visible after experimental caloric irrigations of the external ear canal. Temperature changes could well be verified by changes in coloration of the 2-dimensional thermograms. Conclusions were drawn from registrations performed in 2 projections, 90 degrees to each other, allowing cautious statements about 3-dimensional distribution. The velocity of heat transfer at the very onset of the reaction can only be explained by radiation, whereas later, other mechanisms, such as conduction via the bone or convection via the middle ear gas, may have some influence. Our results support Feldmann's findings and underline the significance of radiation in the heat transfer mechanism.

Venous channels of the petrous apex: their presence and clinical importance.

A methyl methacrylate casting technique was used to make detailed casts of the intracerebral venous system of four human cadaver specimens. Seven of the eight petrous apices studied were diploeic (n = 5), or pneumatic (n = 2) and had venules coursing in the anterior petrous apex. These venules form conduits connecting the cavernous to the inferior petrosal sinus or the jugular bulb and have not been previously described. In addition to the air cell system of the petrous apex, these venules may represent pathways for the spread of infection and the development of petrous apicitis, Gradenigo's syndrome, and the rare otogenic cavernous sinus thrombophlebitis. Their presence also may help explain the location of cholesterol granulomas, which afflict this area of the skull base.

[Developmental studies on the petrous part of the human temporal bone--special references to the morphogenesis of the facial nerve canal].

Development and formation of the petrous bone was examined in total of 343 Japanese skulls. The materials used consisted of 310 skulls of Japanese fetuses ranging from the fourth to tenth month, 19 skulls of Japanese juveniles from the third month to 7 years of age, and 20 temporal bones obtained from 14 adult cadavers. A total of six group of ossification centers appear in the petrous part during 5th fetal month, and they form the petrous bone at 6th fetal month. The firstly-appeared ossification center is just above the round window, and the second is on the ampulla of anterior semicircular canal. Other ossifications are observed between the cochlea and semicircular canals, on the brim of internal acoustic porus, on the superior surface of the petrous apex, and on the summit of posterior semicircular canal. The ossification of the facial canal starts at 6th fetal month, though the geniculate part and tympanic part do not complete until one year old after birth. Even in adults, the facial canal dehiscence are found at more than 10% of cases, mainly locating in the tympanic part. On the basis of these results, formation of the petrous bone including facial canal and other bony structures was discussed from the viewpoints of the ossification and pre- and postnatal middle ear development.

On the transmission of sound generated by an electromagnetic device from the mastoid process to the petrous bone.

An electromagnetic device (EMD) for sound transmission from the mastoid process to the petrous part of the temporal bone was designed, built, and analyzed. A theoretical model was developed in order to predict the EMD acoustical performance and the distortion caused by skull bones. This model enabled the investigation of various technical improvements and calibration options. The EMD was miniaturized by using rare earth magnets in the construction of both external transmitter and internal receiver. In vitro implantation of the internal receiver into the mastoid process was carried out by simple mastoidectomy techniques. The input and output powers of the system, including the EMD and skull bones components, were measured and the power transfer function was calculated. The sound, which was generated by the EMD and transmitted through the dry as well as simulated cadaver skull, had high fidelity in spite of some vibratory distortion at the lower sonic frequencies. Results suggest that further development of hearing aids based on electromechanical sound transmission should take into account the specific acoustic response pattern of the skull bones.

Experimental investigations on the suitability of the carbon dioxide laser for stapedotomy.

Surgery of the footplate may cause a number of possible complications such as cochlear hearing defects or even complete loss of hearing. This has made it necessary to look for improved techniques. When a laser is used for stapedotomy, the energy transmitted to the cochlea must be reduced to the lowest possible level. We thus investigated the carbon dioxide laser to determine whether it would prove to be more advantageous than the argon laser. Animal experiments showed that CO2 laser irradiation is well tolerated. Tests performed on isolated petrous bone resulted in the development of a new surgical instrument suitable for stapedotomy using the CO2 laser. Temperature and pressure measurements were carried out on a simplified model of the human cochlea. Our findings indicated that, with both types of laser, the irradiation required to perforate the otosclerotically thickened footplate adversely affects temperature and pressure development in the cochlea.

On the functional morphology of the human petrous bone.

In this study the human petrous bone was investigated to find out whether and in what way it is adapted to mechanical stress by inner bone structure. Three normally formed petrous bones were cut in serial sections and examined by means of microradiography and circular polarized light with respect to mineralization, distribution of bone structure, and collagen fiber arrangement over the cross section. It has been shown that the human petrous bone can be divided morphologically into four different bony layers: 1) endosteal; 2) enchrondral ; 3) inner periosteal layers, which together form the labyrinthine capsule and which are characterized by a higher level of mineralization and show no clear indication of bone remodeling; and 4) outer periosteal layer, in which numerous osteons indicate appositional and resorptional growth processes. The collagen fibers in the labyrinthine capsule are arranged in an irregular web-like pattern, whereas in the outer periosteal layer they run predominantly parallel to the surfaces of the petrous bone, probably to minimize the mechanical stress in the form of a tension band. These results support the assumption that in the human petrous bone, the outer periosteal layer is adapted to resorb elastic deformation, whereas the brittle labyrinthine capsule is better adapted to the functions of an auditory and vestibular organ.