Canals of the temporal bone

In this pdf-note, we will learn the structure of the openings and canals of the temporal bone.

Openings and canals of the temporal bone

Title

External opening

Internal opening

Contents

Carotid canal
(canalis caroticus)

External opening of the carotid canal on the inferior surface of the petrous part

Internal opening of the carotid canal on the apex of the petrous part

Internal carotid artery and internal carotid plexus

Musculotubal canal
(canalis musculotubarius)

At the apex of the petrous part near the petrosquamous fissure	Canal for the auditory tube (semicanalis tubae auditivae)	On the anterior wall of the tympanic cavity
	Canal for the tensor tympani muscle (semicanalis musculi tensoris tympani)

Auditory tube

Tensor tympani muscle

Facial canal
(canalis facialis)

Bottom of the internal acoustic meatus

The canal forms two genicula (bendings)

Stylomastoid foramen (foramen stylomastoideum)

Facial nerve, stylomastoid artery, stylomastoid vein

Canaliculus for the chorda tympani
(canaliculus chordae tympani)

Inside the facial canal, above the stylomastoid foramen

Petrotympanic fissure (fissura petrotympanica)

Chorda tympani (chorda tympani) – a branch of the facial nerve

Tympanic canaliculus
(canaliculus tympanicus)

In the petrosal fossula (fossula petrosa)

Hiatus for lesser petrosal nerve (hiatus canalis nervi petrosi minoris) on the anterior surface of the petrous part

Tympanic nerve (n. tympanicus) – a branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve

Mastoid canaliculus
(canaliculus mastoideus)

Jugular fossa (fossa jugularis)

Tympanomastoid fissure (fissura tympanomastoidea)

Auricular branch of vagus nerve

Caroticotympanic canaliculi
(canaliculi caroticotympanici) – 2-3 units

Inside the wall of the carotid canal

In the tympanic cavity

Caroticotympanic arteries, caroticotympanic nerves

Canal of the greater petrosal nerve
(canalis nervi petrosi majoris)

Facial canal in the area of the geniculum

Hiatus for the greater petrosal nerve (hiatus canalis nervi petrosi majoris)

Greater petrosal nerve (n. petrosus major)

Musculotubal canal (canalis musculotubarius)

Canal for the tensor tympani muscle (semicanalis musculi tensoris tympani)

Canal for the auditory tube (semicanalis tubae auditivae)

Dictionary