Three‐Dimensional Study of the Facial Canal Using Microcomputed Tomography for Improved Anatomical Comprehension

• Published in: Anatomical record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007) N.J. : 2007), 2014-10, Vol.297 (10), p.1808-1816
• Main Authors: Shin, Kang‐Jae, Gil, Young‐Chun, Lee, Ju‐Young, Kim, Jeong‐Nam, Song, Wu‐Chul, Koh, Ki‐Seok
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3D reconstruction; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; bony labyrinth; facial canal; Facial Nerve - anatomy & histology; Facial Nerve - diagnostic imaging; Female; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods; Male; measurement; micro‐CT; Middle Aged; Petrous Bone - anatomy & histology; Petrous Bone - diagnostic imaging; X-Ray Microtomography - methods; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1932-8486; 1932-8494
• DOI: 10.1002/ar.22977

ABSTRACT The aims of this study were to determine the various dimensions of the normal facial canal and to identify the spatial relationships between the facial canal and its adjacent structures using microcomputed tomography (micro‐CT) imaging and three‐dimensional (3D) reconstruction. The petrous parts of 54 temporal bones were scanned using micro‐CT with a slice thickness of 35 μm. The serial micro‐CT images were used to reconstruct 3D volumes of the facial canal and the bony labyrinth with the aid of computer software. These volumes were used to measure 31 dimensions of the facial canal and its spatial relationships with adjacent structures. The length of the meatal segment, the tympanic segment, and the mastoid segment were significantly larger in males than in females (p