Morphological and Morphometrical Study of the Human Ossicular Chain: A Review of the Literature and a Meta-Analysis of Experience Over 50 Years

Noussios, George; Chouridis, Pantelis; Kostretzis, Lazaros; Natsis, Konstantinos

doi:10.14740/jocmr2369w

Cited by 24 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…In this study, we investigated middle ear development during the fetal period (CRL between 37 and 197 mm) using high‐resolution MRI. Our findings indicated that the MEOs are morphologically similar during fetal development and adulthood (Bast and Anson, ; Anson and Donaldson, ; Unur et al, ; Noussios et al, ). However, dynamic calcification and endochondral ossification of cartilage were observed as patchy, low‐density areas on MR images during the observation period.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

“…The total maximum lengths of the malleus, incus, and stapes in five samples exhibiting a CRL between 145 and 197 mm in the present study were comparable to those observed in newborns and adults. Previous studies have reported the total lengths of the malleus, incus, and stapes as 7.69 ± 0.60, 6.47 ± 0.55, and 3.22 ± 0.31 mm in newborns (Unur et al, ) and as 7.80 ± 0.33, 5.36 ± 1.23, and 3.25 ± 0.10 mm in adults (Noussios et al, ), respectively. Such morphometric data may indicate that growth of MEOs nearly ceases when the fetus has attained a CRL of approximately 150 mm.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…The length of each MEO, TC, and TR was measured as follows: malleus, maximal distance between the top of the head and the end of the handle (manubrium); incus, maximal distance between the superior edge of the body and the end of the long process; stapes, maximal distance between the top of the head and the basis stapedis; TC, maximal length of the cavity including the inlet of auditory tube; TR: circumference of the center line of the TR (Noussios et al, ). The position of the center line and length of each structure were determined using Amira software.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Morphogenesis of the Middle Ear during Fetal Development as Observed Via Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Ohtsuki

Ishikawa

Yamada

et al. 2018

The Anatomical Record

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Recently, our research group has utilized serial histological sections to investigate the morphogenesis of the middle ear, which corresponds to the period of middle ear ossicle (MEO) cartilage formation. However, research regarding middle ear development during the post-embryonic period has been limited. In the present study, we investigated morphogenesis of the middle ear in human fetuses with a crown-rump length (CRL) between 37 and 197 mm using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Our findings indicated that the morphology of the MEOs is similar during fetal development and adulthood; further, growth of the MEOs nearly ceases once a CRL of 150 mm is attained. In each MEO, ossification spreads from a single center. The malleus and Meckel's cartilage could be discriminated in samples exhibiting a CRL of 145 mm based on differences in MRI signal intensity. In samples with a CRL of 86 mm, the tympanic cavity (TC) appeared as a thin yet distinct structure attached to the external auditory meatus at the convex surface. Only the handle of the malleus was covered by the TC, while the incus and stapes contacted the cavity at the region of articulation between the two ossicles only, even after a CRL of 145 mm had been attained. Thus, although the TC increased in both diameter and thickness, coverage did not extend across all three MEOs during the observation period. These data are expected to provide a useful standard for morphogenesis and may aid researchers in distinguishing between normal and abnormal development. Anat Rec, 301:757-764, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals Inc.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Morphogenesis of the Middle Ear during Fetal Development as Observed Via Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Ohtsuki

Ishikawa

Yamada

et al. 2018

The Anatomical Record

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“…Knowledge of the ossicular chain's complex anatomy is important for hearing research and surgical procedures concerning the middle ear. The ossicular chain is known to vary naturally in humans (Kamrava & Roehm, 2017) and can present with congenital malformations (Noussios, Chouridis, Kostretzis, & Natsis, 2016); however, more information on its variation across the population is needed for better understanding of normal and pathological function.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A recent meta‐analysis revealed that relatively few morphological or morphometrical studies have been done on the ossicular chain over the past 50 years, and in these studies the method of analysis and morphometrical results varied greatly (Noussios et al, 2016). While older studies relied on publishing morphometrical measurements to study ossicle shape and orientation (Kamrava & Roehm, 2017; Noussios et al, 2016), newer imaging technologies allow for three‐dimensional (3D) model derivation from two‐dimensional (2D) image slices, providing much greater detail on ossicle structure and function. Initial studies producing 3D models of the ossicular chain used low‐resolution, clinical computed‐tomography (CT) images to create models.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Micro‐CT of the human ossicular chain: Statistical shape modeling and implications for otologic surgery

et al. 2021

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The ossicular chain is a middle ear structure consisting of the small incus, malleus and stapes bones, which transmit tympanic membrane vibrations caused by sound to the inner ear. Despite being shown to be highly variable in shape, there are very few morphological studies of the ossicles. The objective of this study was to use a large sample of cadaveric ossicles to create a set of three‐dimensional models and study their statistical variance. Thirty‐three cadaveric temporal bone samples were scanned using micro‐computed tomography (μCT) and segmented. Statistical shape models (SSMs) were then made for each ossicle to demonstrate the divergence of morphological features. Results revealed that ossicles were most likely to vary in overall size, but that more specific feature variability was found at the manubrium of the malleus, the long process and lenticular process of the incus, and the crura and footplate of the stapes. By analyzing samples as whole ossicular chains, it was revealed that when fixed at the malleus, changes along the chain resulted in a wide variety of final stapes positions. This is the first known study to create high‐quality, three‐dimensional SSMs of the human ossicles. This information can be used to guide otological surgical training and planning, inform ossicular prosthesis development, and assist with other ossicular studies and applications by improving automated segmentation algorithms. All models have been made publicly available.

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Morphometry of auditory ossicles in medieval human remains from Central Europe

Krenz‐Niedbała

Łukasik

Macudziński

et al. 2021

The Anatomical Record

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Human auditory ossicles, the malleus, the incus, and the stapes, are located in the tympanic cavity in the temporal bone and through forming a chain for the sound transmission from the tympanic membrane to the cochlea, they play an important role in the hearing process. Despite their clinical, phylogenetic, and evolutionary significance, the morphometry of the human ear bones has not been examined systematically. The ear ossicles are the smallest bones of the human skeleton, attaining their final size and morphology already at birth. Initially, they have been found to exhibit minimal morphometric variation, but further studies brought the opposite results. The aim of this study was to examine the morphometric variation of human auditory ossicles recovered from medieval and postmedieval subadult skeletons from Poland, Central Europe.The analysis involved in a total of 166 ear bones. Their measurements were performed on microscopic images using CorelDraw x4, according to a protocol of Quam and Rak with modification of Flohr et al. and Wadhwa et al. Our study showed a significant metric variation in the measurements taken at areas of the greatest morphological variability of the ossicles. We found that greater linear dimensions were associated with lower values of angular measurements. These results reveal the inherent variation found in these supposed functionally constrained structures. Representation of even greater number of populations, time periods, and developmental stages are needed. Further study will expand our understanding of the global scope of variation found in ear ossicular morphology and its functional implications for paleoanthropology.

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Morphological and Morphometrical Study of the Human Ossicular Chain: A Review of the Literature and a Meta-Analysis of Experience Over 50 Years

Cited by 24 publications

References 22 publications

Morphogenesis of the Middle Ear during Fetal Development as Observed Via Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Morphogenesis of the Middle Ear during Fetal Development as Observed Via Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Micro‐CT of the human ossicular chain: Statistical shape modeling and implications for otologic surgery

Morphometry of auditory ossicles in medieval human remains from Central Europe

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