Mastoid air cells
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Knipe H, Hacking C, Weerakkody Y, et al. Mastoid air cells. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 31 Mar 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-28366
rID:
28366
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Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosuresLast revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Craig Hacking had no recorded disclosures.
View Craig Hacking's current disclosuresRevisions:
12 times, by 5 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures
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Synonyms:
- Cellulae mastoidae
- Mastoid sinus
- Mastoid sinuses
The mastoid air cells (cellulae mastoideae) represent the pneumatization of the mastoid part of the temporal bone and are of variable size and extent.
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Gross anatomy
At the superior and anterior part of the mastoid process the air cells are large and irregular and contain air, but toward the inferior part they diminish in size, while those at the apex of the process are frequently quite small and contain marrow. Occasionally, they are entirely absent.
Mastoid air cells communicate with the middle ear via the mastoid antrum and the aditus ad antrum.
The mastoid air cells are traversed by the Koerner septum, a thin bony structure formed by the petrosquamous suture that extends posteriorly from the epitympanum, separating the mastoid air cells into medial and lateral compartments.
Related pathology
See also
References
- 1. Temporal Bone Imaging. Thieme. ISBN:1588904016. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Gray H. Anatomy of the Human Body, 20th edition. (1918) ISBN:1587341026. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 3. Snell RS. Clinical Anatomy by Regions. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN:160913446X. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 4. Amy F. Juliano, Daniel T. Ginat, Gul Moonis. Imaging Review of the Temporal Bone: Part I. Anatomy and Inflammatory and Neoplastic Processes. (2013) Radiology. 269 (1): 17-33. doi:10.1148/radiol.13120733 - Pubmed
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