Otic capsule
Last revised by Abdus Sattar
on 19 Jan 2025
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Knipe H, Hacking C, Yu Jin T, Otic capsule. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 23 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-40170
rID:
40170
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosures
Last revised:
19 Jan 2025,
Abdus Sattar
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Abdus Sattar had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Abdus Sattar's current disclosures
Revisions:
9 times, by
4 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Tags:
Synonyms:
- osseous labyrinth
- bony labyrinth
The otic capsule or osseous (bony) labyrinth refers to the dense bone of the petrous temporal bone that surrounds the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear. It is surrounded by the less dense and variably pneumatized petrous apex and mastoid part of the temporal bone.
From anterior to posterior, the osseous labyrinth is comprised of:
cochlea, containing the cochlear duct
semicircular canals, containing the semicircular ducts
It is lined by periosteum. As the membranous labyrinth is slightly smaller than the osseous labyrinth, the two are separate by perilymph, which does not communicate with the endolymph contained in the membranous labyrinth.
There are 4 openings:
-
into the middle ear cavity
-
into the posterior cranial fossa
Related pathology
petrous temporal bone fractures: involvement of the otic capsule is important to recognize due to increased risk of complications
otospongiosis: primary osteodystrophy of otic capsule
References
- 1. Zayas JO, Feliciano YZ, Hadley CR et-al. Temporal bone trauma and the role of multidetector CT in the emergency department. Radiographics. 2011;31 (6): 1741-55. doi:10.1148/rg.316115506 - Pubmed citation
- 2. Urman SM, Talbot JM. Otic capsule dysplasia: clinical and CT findings. Radiographics. 1990;10 (5): 823-38. doi:10.1148/radiographics.10.5.2217973 - Pubmed citation
- 3. Mandell J. Core Radiology. Cambridge University Press. (2013) ISBN:1107679680. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 4. Juliano AF, Ginat DT, Moonis G. Imaging review of the temporal bone: part I. Anatomy and inflammatory and neoplastic processes. Radiology. 2013;269 (1): 17-33. doi:10.1148/radiol.13120733 - Pubmed citation
- 5. Susan Standring. Gray's Anatomy. ISBN: 9780702052309
- 6. Last's anatomy, regional and applied. Churchill Livingstone. ISBN:044304662X. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
Incoming Links
Articles:
- Medical abbreviations and acronyms (O)
- Mixed temporal bone fractures
- Sensorineural hearing loss
- Longitudinal vs transverse petrous temporal bone fracture
- Semicircular canals
- Perilymph
- Semicircular duct
- Perilymphatic duct
- Endolymphatic duct
- Schuller's view
- Labyrinth (disambiguation)
- Longitudinal temporal bone fractures
- Cochlear aqueduct
- Internal auditory canal diverticulum
- Michel aplasia
- Otospongiosis
- Fissula ante fenestram
- Petrous apex
- Endolymph
- Stapediovestibular joint
Cases:
- Cochlear incomplete partition - type III
- Labyrinth (Gray's illustration)
- Membranous labyrinth (Gray's illustration)
- Osseous labyrinth (Gray's illustrations)
- Temporal bone fracture (otic capsule sparing)
- Bilateral fenestral otosclerosis
- Temporoparietal fracture with intracranial hemorrhage
- Epidural hematoma, temporal bone fracture and incudomalleolar joint disruption
- Otospongiosis
- Otic capsule: annotated CT
Related articles: Anatomy: Head and neck
- skeleton of the head and neck
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cranial vault
- scalp (mnemonic)
- fontanelle
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sutures
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- frontozygomatic suture
- frontomaxillary suture
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common carotid artery
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arterial supply
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trigeminal nerve (CN V) (mnemonic)
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