Temporal Bone AR Atlas
Table of Contents
The temporal bone is located on the sides and base of the skull adjacent to the ears. It supports the temples.
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- Temporal bone: The temporal bones are located o the basolateral aspect of the skull. It is irregular in shape and consists of multiple parts: the Squamous part, the Tympanic Part, the Petro-Mastoid Part and the Styloid process (5,13,14)
Petrous part of the temporal bone
- Petrous part of temporal bone: The petrous part of the temporal bone is shaped like a pyramid with an apex, three surfaces, and three borders. It is oriented with its base laterally. (1,7)
- Occipital margin of temporal bone: The occipital margin of the temporal bone is represented by the posterior border of the petrous part of the temporal bone. (8)
- Mastoid process: The mastoid process is a bony projection located on the outer surface of the posterior part of the bone. (1,8)
- Mastoid notch: The mastoid notch is a grove located on the inferior surface of the bone, on the medial side of the mastoid process. (1)
- Groove for occipital artery: The groove for the occipital artery is a shallow groove that is positioned posterior to the mastoid notch of the temporal bone. (1)
- Mastoid foramen: The mastoid foramen is an opening that is located posterior to the mastoid process of the temporal bone. (1,7)
- Apex of petrous part: The apex of the petrous part is the tip of the petrous part of the temporal bone. It articulates in an angle that is created by the greater wing of the sphenoid bone and the basilar part of the occipital bone (3,15)
- Carotid canal: The carotid canal is a tunnel that starts from the inferior surface of the petrous bone and opens on the apex of the petrous part of the temporal bone. (1,15)
- External opening of carotid canal: The external opening of the carotid canal is situated on the inferior surface of the petrous part of the temporal bone medial to the jugular fossa. (1,15)
- Internal opening of the carotid canal: The internal opening of the carotid canal is situated on the apex of the petrous part of the temporal bone. (1,15)
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- Musculotubal canal: The musculotubal canal is divided in 2 semicanals by a bony septum. It leads into the tympanic cavity and opens anterior to the external opening of the carotid canal. (1,8,16)
- Semicanal for tensor tympani: The semicanal for tensor tympani is the upper canal of the 2 musculotubal canals. It transmits the tensor tympani muscle. (1,8,16)
- Semicanal for auditory tube: The semicanal for auditory tube is the lower canal of the 2 musculotubal canals. It transmits the auditory tube. (1,8,16)
- Septum of musculotubal canal: it is a thin bony plate that divides the musculotubal canal in 2 semicanals (1,8,16)
- Anterior surface of petrous part: The anterior surface of the petrous part contributes to the formation of the middle fossa of the skull base. (1)
- Tegmen tympani: Tegmen tympani is a depression located anterolaterally to the arcuate eminence. (1)
- Arcuate eminence: The arcuate eminence is a bulge located near the center of the anterior surface of the petrous part. (1,12)
- Hiatus for greater petrosal nerve: The hiatus for the greater petrosal nerve is an opening on the anterior surface of the petrous part that gives passage to the greater superficial petrosal nerve. (1)
- Groove for greater petrosal nerve: The groove for the greater petrosal nerve is a shallow groove, obliquely oriented on the anterior surface of the petrous part. This groove leads to the hiatus of the greater petrosal nerve. (1,9)
- Hiatus for lesser petrosal nerve: The hiatus for the lesser petrosal nerve is an opening located lateral to the hiatus of the greater petrosal nerve. It gives passage to the lesser petrosal nerve (1,10)
- Groove for lesser petrosal nerve: The groove for the lesser petrosal nerve is a shallow groove that sometimes runs parallel to the groove for the greater petrosal nerve. It is situated anterior to the hiatus for the lesser petrosal nerve. (1,8,16)
- Trigeminal impression: The trigeminal impression is a depression that is situated on the anterior surface of the petrous part of the temporal bone . It is positioned medially towards the apex of the petrous part.
- Petrous ridge: The petrous ridge is the grooved border that is situated superiorly. (1)
- Groove for superior petrosal sinus: The groove for the superior petrosal sinus is a groove that is situated along the superior border of the petrous part of the temporal bone. (1)
- Posterior surface of petrous part: The posterior surface of the petrous part of the temporal bone takes part in the formation of the posterior fossa of the base of the skull and continues the inner surface of the mastoid portion (1)
- Internal acoustic opening: Positioned at the center of the petrous part (posterior surface), the internal acoustic opening is an aperture characterized by smooth, rounded margins. (1)
- Internal acoustic meatus: The internal acoustic meatus is a short canal that gives passage to the facial and acoustic nerves. It opens on the posterior surface of the petrous part via the internal acoustic opening. (1)
- Subarcuate fossa: The subarcuate fossa is an irregular depression that is located posterior to the internal acoustic opening. (1)
- Vestibular canaliculus: The vestibular canaliculus is a narrow canal that extends from the internal ear to the petrous part of the temporal bone.(17)
- Opening of vestibular canaliculus:
- Posterior border of petrous part: The posterior border of the petrous part of the temporal bone is located posteriorly on the petrous part and is intermediate in length. (1)
- Jugular notch of temporal bone: The jugular notch of the temporal bone is located laterally on the posterior border of the petrous part. It takes part in the formation of the jugular foramen. (1)
- Inferior surface of petrous part: The inferior surface of the petrous part is a rough, irregular surface that contributes to the formation of the exterior base of the skull. (1)
- Jugular fossa: The jugular fossa is a depression located on the inferior surface of the petrous part, located laterally to the external opening of the carotid canal. (1)
- Intrajugular process of temporal bone: The intrajugular process of the temporal bone is a bone spicule that occasionally projects from the jugular foramen. Its union with the occipital bone’s intrajugular process results in a bridge that divides the jugular foramen into two compartments. (1,11)
- Styloid process of temporal bone: The styloid process of the temporal bone is a sharp bony process that is situated lateral to the jugular fossa (1,8)
- Stylomastoid foramen: The stylomastoid foramen represents the termination of the facial canal. Its opening is located posterior to the styloid process (1,8)
- Inferior tympanic canaliculus: The inferior tympanic canaliculus is a small tunnel with its opening in the bony ridge between the external opening of the carotid canal and the jugular fossa. (1)
- Petrosal fossula: The petrosal fossula is a depression that is located between the jugular fossa and the external opening of the carotid canal. (1)
Tympanic part of the temporal bone
- Tympanic part of temporal bone: The tympanic part of the temporal bone is a curved area anterior to the mastoid process. (1)
- Tympanic ring: The tympanic ring is an incomplete circle that, shortly after birth, fuses with the squama and continues to expand to form the tympanic part. (1,18)
- Bony external acoustic opening: The bony external acoustic opening is the opening of the external acoustic meatus. (1,8)
- Bony external acoustic meatus: The bony external acoustic meatus is an approximately 1 cm long oval canal. It is formed by the tympanic part and by the squama. (1)
- Greater tympanic spine:
- Lesser tympanic spine:
- Tympanic sulcus: it is a groove inside the tympanic ring. The circumference of the tympanic membrane attaches to this sulcus. (1,19)
- Tympanic notch:
- Sheath of styloid process: The sheath of styloid process is a sheet that extends posteriorly from the carotid canal that encircles the styloid process.(1,8)
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Squamous part of the temporal bone
- Squamous part of temporal bone: The squamous part of the temporal bone is the anterosuperior part of the bone. It has two surfaces: an outer surface (temporal surface of temporal bone) and an internal surface. (1)
- Parietal border of temporal bone: The parietal border of the temporal bone is the superior border, its edge is beveled and articulates with the parietal bone. (1,8)
- Parietal notch: The parietal notch is located posteriorly in the angle formed by the parietal border with the superior border of the mastoid part. (1,7)
- Sphenoidal margin of temporal bone: The sphenoidal margin of the temporal bone is the anteroinferior border. It articulates with the sphenoid (greater wing). (1,8)
- Temporal surface of temporal bone: The temporal surface of the temporal bone refers to the outer portion of the temporal bone, which is smooth and convex. (1)
- Zygomatic process of temporal bone: The zygomatic process of the temporal bone is an arched projection extending from the squama. It has two roots, and takes part in the formation of the zygomatic arch (1,7)
- Supramastoid crest: The supramastoid crest is located in the posterior part of the squamous part of the temporal bone. It is the continuation of the zygomatic process of the temporal bone. (1,7)
- Suprameatal fovea: The supramaeatal fovea is a small depression located between the posterior wall of the external acoustic meatus and the posterior root of the zygomatic process on the temporal bone. (1)
- Suprameatal spine: The suprameatal spine is located between the external acoustic meatus and the root of the posterior root of the zygomatic process. (1,8)
- Mandibular fossa: The mandibular fossa is a concave depression on the temporal bone that forms part of the temporomandibular joint, where it articulates with the mandible’s condyle. (1,8)
- Articular surface of mandibular fossa: It is the anterior part of the mandibular fossa. (1,8)
- Articular tubercle: The articular tubercle is a rounded eminence that is located at the end of the zygomatic process of the temporal bone (posterior root), anterior to the mandibular fossa. (1,8)
- Cerebral surface of squamous part of temporal bone: The cerebral surface of the squamous part of the temporal bone is the internal surface of the squamous part of the temporal bone. This surface faces the brain. (1)
- Petrotympanic fissure: The petrotympanic fissure is situated between the mandibular fossa and the tympanic part, posterior to the petrosquamous fissure. (1,8)
- Petrosquamous fissure: The petrosquamous fissure is situated between the mandibular fossa and the tympanic cavity, anterior to the petrotympanic fissure. (1,8)
- Tympanosquamous fissure: The typmanosquamous fissure is situated between the tympanic part and the squama. It continues the petrosquamous fissure and petrotympanic fissure lateraly. (8,15)
- Tympanomastoid fissure: The tympanomastoid fissure is a fissure that is formed by the posterior edge of the tympanic part and mastoid. (1)
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The structure and organization of anatomical terms used in this text follow the guidelines provided by FIPAT (2019) in their publication: FIPAT. (2019). Terminologia Anatomica (2nd ed.). FIPAT.library.dal.ca. Federative International Programme for Anatomical Terminology. Retrieved May 7, 2023, from https://fipat.library.dal.ca/TA2/