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A microanatomical map of the structures hidden in the middle fossa based on the facial nerve hiatus: Measurements and their variability
Author(s) -
Salma Asem,
Makiese Orphee,
Reiss Alisha,
Pillai Promod,
Sammet Steffen,
Ammirati Mario
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
clinical anatomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.667
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1098-2353
pISSN - 0897-3806
DOI - 10.1002/ca.22082
Subject(s) - medicine , hiatus , anatomy , facial nerve , posterior fossa , paleontology , geology
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships/variations between the facial nerve hiatus (FNH) and middle cranial fossa neuro‐vascular structures. Twenty CT‐scanned middle cranial fossae of fresh adult cadavers were used; the greater superficial petrosal nerves, and critical neuro‐vascular structures were identified. Using the FNH as a reference point, a neuronavigation system was used to measure the distance between each structure and the FNH. The coefficient of variation (CV) was used to quantify the degree of variation among each distance. The mean distances and standard deviations between the various landmarks and the FNH, and the associated CV were analyzed. Furthermore, a microanatomical map of the structures hidden in the middle fossa based on the greater superficial petrosal nerve was generated. The most reliable relationships of the FNH were with the internal auditory canal (CV = 14.59), and with the vertical portion of the intrapetrous internal carotid artery (CV = 15.54). Our data demonstrate that the FNH can be used as anatomical landmark to plot the position of several hidden neurovascular structures when performing a middle‐fossa skull base approach. However, the pattern and the variation of these structures had to be recognized. Clin. Anat. 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.