Otic capsule: annotated CT

Case contributed by Henry Knipe
Diagnosis not applicable
Annotated image

Annotated axial CT of the right petrous temporal bone:

  • blue arrow: otic capsule (dense bone)
  • yellow arrow: petrous apex
  • orange arrow: mastoid air cells
  • red arrow: cochlea
  • green arrow: vestibule

Original case courtesy of Dr David van Gelderen, Radiopaedia.org, rID: 37030. Original file: http://radiopaedia.org/cases/normal-petrous-temporal-bone-axial-ct. Annotations: crop and arrows. 

Case Discussion

Recognition of the otic capsule is important because its involvement in petrous temporal bone fractures increases the likelihood of serious complications. The otic capsule (blue arrow) is the dense bone (compared to the petrous apex and mastoid part) that surrounds the membranous inner ear structures. 

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