Francisco Javier Martinez Ayala¹, Marco Antonio Olvera Olvera²* and José Alfredo Castro Ibañez³

¹Radiologist, Department of Radiology, Hospital General de Zona 08, Uruapan Michoacan, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social IMSS, México
²Radiologist, Department of Radiology, Hospital General de Zona T21, León Guanajuato, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social IMSS, México
³Radiologist, Department of Radiology, Hospital General de Zona 33, Bahía de Banderas, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social IMSS, México

*Corresponding Author: Marco Antonio Olvera Olvera, Radiologist, Department of Radiology, Hospital General de Zona T21, León Guanajuato, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social IMSS, México.

Received: December 02, 2024; Published: December 31, 2024

Abstract

Computed tomography (CT) of the ear has become a highly requested study in recent years by audiology and otorhinolaryngology services. The aim of this work is to streamline and organize its exploration while presenting the anatomical foundations of the middle ear. The protocol and examination described here are those performed at our hospital, UMAE T21 HGZ, León, Guanajuato.

The anatomical foundations focus on studying the petrous portion of the temporal bone. The ear is composed of three sections, named from the most lateral to the most medial region of the temporal bone: the external ear, middle ear, and inner ear.

The middle ear has the shape of a geometric "cube" and serves to amplify sound from the tympanic membrane to the oval window through a series of interconnected ossicles that function as levers.

The evaluation approach proposed in this study is based on this geometric figure, assessing its shape, contents, and the structures that pass through it.

 Keywords: CT Protocol; Middle Ear; Geometric Faces; Content; Traversing Structures

References

1. Juliano AF., et al. "Imaging Review of the Temporal Bone: Part I. Anatomy and Inflammatory and Neoplastic Processes”. Radiology 269 (2013): 17-33.
2. Weber PC. “Vertigo and Disequilibrium: A Practical Guide to Diagnosis and Management”. Thieme (2011): 15-39.
3. Curtin HD., et al. "Temporal Bone: Embryology and Anatomy”. Head and Neck Imaging, edited by Som P.M. and Curtin H.D 4^th, Mosby (2003): 1062-1075.
4. Virapongse C., et al. "Computed Tomography of Temporal Bone Pneumatization. I. Normal Pattern and Morphology”. AJR American Journal of Roentgenology 3 (1985): 473-481.
5. Mayer TE., et al. "High-Resolution CT of the Temporal Bone in Dysplasia of the Auricle and External Auditory Canal”. AJNR American Journal of Neuroradiology1 (1997): 53-65.
6. Zeifer B., et al. "Congenital Absence of the Oval Window: Radiologic Diagnosis and Associated Anomalies”. AJNR American Journal of Neuroradiology2 (2000): 322-327.
7. Stephan AL and Isaacson JE. "Incudomalleolar Joint Separation”. American Journal of Otology2 (2000): 284-285.
8. Lemmerling MM., et al. "CT of the Normal Suspensory Ligaments of the Ossicles in the Middle Ear”. AJNR American Journal of Neuroradiology3 (1997): 471-477.
9. Fatterpekar GM., et al. "Role of 3D CT in the Evaluation of the Temporal Bone”. Radiographics 1 (2006): S117-S132.
10. Juliano AF. "Cross-Sectional Imaging of the Ear and Temporal Bone”. Head and Neck Pathology3 (2018): 302-320.
11. Brodie HA and Thompson TC. "Management of Complications from Temporal Bone Fractures”. American Journal of Otology 18 (1997): 188-197.
12. Dahiya R., et al. "Temporal Bone Fractures: Otic Capsule Sparing versus Otic Capsule Violating”. Journal of Trauma 47 (1999): 1079-1083.
13. Lambert PR and Brackmann DE. "Facial Paralysis in Longitudinal Temporal Bone Fractures: A Review of 26 Cases”. Laryngoscope 94 (1984): 1022-1026.
14. Som MP and Curtin DH. “Radiología de Cabeza y Cuello”. 4^th, Universidad de Nueva York (2003).
15. Lopez Hernandez C., et al. "Valoración de los Nervios Craneales con Resonancia Magnética 3 T y Tomografía Computada Multicorte”. Revista Sanidad Militar Mexico6 (2009): 259-270.

Citation

Citation: Marco Antonio Olvera Olvera., et al. “Middle Ear Exploration Protocol: Anatomical Foundations via Computed Tomography".Acta Scientific Orthopaedics 8.1 (2025): 36-43.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Marco Antonio Olvera Olvera., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.