Part 226

The =muscles= of the auditory ossicles are two in number, viz., the tensor tympani and the stapedius. The =tensor tympani= arises from the upper wall of the osseous Eustachian tube, and ends in a delicate tendon which bends outward and is inserted into the handle of the malleus near its upper end. When it contracts, it draws the handle of the malleus inward and tenses the membrana tympani; it probably also rotates the malleus around its long axis. It is innervated by the motor part of the trigeminus through the otic ganglion. The =stapedius= arises from a small prominence (Eminentia pyramidalis) of the posterior wall of the tympanum, runs forward on the facial nerve, and is inserted into the neck of the stapes. Its action is to draw the head of the stapes backward and rotate the anterior end of the base outward, thus tensing the annular ligament. It is innervated by the facial nerve.

The =tympanic mucous membrane= (Tunica mucosa tympanica) is continuous with that of the pharynx and the guttural pouch through the Eustachian tube. It is thin, closely united with the underlying periosteum, and is reflected over the ossicles, ligaments, and muscles, the chorda tympani, and the facial nerve in the open part of the facial canal. It contains minute lymph nodules and small mucous glands (Glandulæ tympanicæ). The epithelium is in general columnar ciliated, but over the membrana tympani, ossicles, and promontory it is flattened.

The =artery= of the tympanum is the stylo-mastoid, a small vessel which arises from the posterior auricular branch of the internal maxillary artery. It enters the tympanum through the stylo-mastoid foramen, and forms a circle around the tympanic membrane. The =nerves= of the mucous membrane come from the tympanic plexus.

THE EUSTACHIAN TUBE

The =Eustachian= or =auditory tube= (Tuba auditiva [Eustachii]) extends from the tympanic cavity to the pharynx; it transmits air to the former and equalizes the pressure on the two surfaces of the membrana tympani. It is directed forward, downward, and slightly inward, and is four to five inches (ca. 10 to 12 cm.) in length. Its posterior extremity lies at the inner side of the root of the muscular process of the petrous temporal, and communicates with the anterior part of the tympanic cavity by the small slit-like =tympanic opening= (Ostium tympanicum tubæ auditivæ). For a distance of about a quarter of an inch (ca. 6 to 7 mm.) in front of this opening it is a complete tube, with a curved lumen which is little more than a capillary space. Further forward it has the form of a plate which widens anteriorly and is curved to inclose a narrow groove, that opens ventrally into an extensive diverticulum termed the guttural pouch. The =pharyngeal opening= (Ostium pharyngeum tubæ auditivæ) is situated on the postero-superior part of the lateral wall of the pharynx just below the level of the posterior nares. It is a slit, an inch or more (ca. 3 cm.) in length, which slopes downward and backward. It is bounded internally by the thin free edge of the tube, from the lower part of which a fold of mucous membrane (Plica salpingo-pharyngea) extends in the same direction on the lateral wall of the pharynx for a distance of a little more than an inch usually. The outer boundary of the opening is the lateral wall of the pharynx. The basis of the tube is a plate of fibro-cartilage (Cartilago tubæ auditivæ) which is firmly attached dorsally to the fibrous tissue which closes the foramen lacerum basis cranii, the temporal wing of the sphenoid, and the pterygoid bone. On cross-section the cartilage (except at its tympanic end) is seen to consist of two laminæ which are continuous with each other above. The internal lamina (Lamina medialis) gradually widens toward the pharyngeal end, where it forms a broad valvular flap. This is convex internally, and its thin anterior edge forms the inner margin of the pharyngeal opening. Behind this the lamina has a thick free edge which projects ventrally from the roof of the guttural pouch. The external lamina (Lamina lateralis) is narrow and thin, and is related externally to the levator and tensor palati muscles, which are in part attached to it; it does not exist at the pharyngeal end of the tube. The mucous membrane of the tube is continuous behind with that of the tympanum and in front with that of the pharynx. On either side it is reflected to form a large diverticulum, the guttural pouch. It is covered with ciliated epithelium, and contains mucous glands and lymph nodules.

The pharyngeal opening appears to be closed ordinarily, but the tube opens during deglutition. This action is apparently produced by the part of the palato-pharyngeus muscle which is attached to the tube.

THE GUTTURAL POUCHES

The =guttural pouches=, right and left (Figs. 255, 256, 569), are large mucous sacs, each of which is a ventral diverticulum of the Eustachian tube (Diverticulum tubæ auditivæ); they are not present in the domesticated animals other than the equidæ. They are situated between the base of the cranium and the atlas above and the pharynx below. Medially they are in apposition in great part, but are to some extent separated by the intervening ventral straight muscles of the head. The anterior end is a small cul-de-sac which lies below the body of the presphenoid between the Eustachian tube and the median recess of the pharynx. The posterior extremity lies near or below the atlantal attachment of the longus colli. The pouch is related dorsally to the base of the cranium, the atlanto-occipital joint capsule, and the ventral straight muscles. Ventrally it lies on the pharynx and the origin of the œsophagus. Laterally the relations are numerous and complex. They comprise the pterygoid, levator palati, tensor palati, stylo-hyoideus, and digastricus muscles; the parotid and submaxillary glands; the external carotid, internal maxillary, and external maxillary arteries; the internal maxillary and jugular veins; the pharyngeal or guttural lymph glands; the glosso-pharyngeal, hypoglossal, and superior laryngeal nerves. The vagus, accessory, and sympathetic nerves, the superior cervical ganglion, the internal carotid artery, and the inferior cerebral vein are situated in a fold of the upper wall of the pouch. The pouch is reflected around the anterior border of the great cornu of the hyoid bone so as to clothe both surfaces of the upper part of the latter. It thus forms an outer compartment, which extends backward external to the great cornu and the occipito-hyoideus muscle; it is related externally to the parotid gland, the articulation of the jaw, the ascending part of the internal maxillary artery, the superficial temporal artery, and the facial nerve; dorsally it covers the mandibular nerve and its chief branches, and is attached to the styloid process of the conchal cartilage.

Each pouch communicates with the pharynx through the pharyngeal orifice of the Eustachian tube, and is in direct continuity with the mucous membrane of the latter.

The wall of the pouch is a delicate mucous membrane which is in general rather loosely attached to the surrounding structures. It is covered with ciliated epithelium and is supplied with mucous glands.

FIG. 569.—CROSS-SECTION OF HEAD OF HORSE.

The section passes through the base of the external ear and just behind the posterior border of the lower jaw. 1, Rectus capitis anterior minor; 2, rectus capitis anterior major; 3, inner walls of guttural pouches in apposition; 4, 4, arytenoid cartilage, upper piece apex; 5, posterior pillar of soft palate; 6, false vocal cord; 7, lateral ventricle of larynx; 8, true vocal cord; 9, vocal muscle; 10, thyro-hyoideus muscle. ]

It is worthy of note that the pharyngeal orifice of the Eustachian tube is at such a level as to provide (in the ordinary position of the head) only an overflow outlet for the escape of fluid which may accumulate in the pouch. The two pouches are often unequal in size, and variations in regard to the distance which they extend backward are not uncommon. In one case, a small aged horse, the right pouch extended along the œsophagus about five inches (ca. 12 cm.) behind the ventral tubercle of the atlas, and the left one a little more than two inches (ca. 6 cm.). No pathological changes were apparent, and the condition was not recognizable externally. Cases of extreme size—so-called tympanites—of the pouches occur, and are apparently congenital defects. In a case in a yearling colt, the head of which was 24 inches long, the left pouch extended about 12 inches (ca. 30 cm.) behind the tubercle of the atlas, and had a capacity of six quarts. The anterior end formed a cul-de-sac about two inches (ca. 5 cm.) long between the Eustachian tube and levator palati internally and the internal pterygoid muscle externally.

THE INTERNAL EAR

The =internal ear= or =labyrinth= (Auris interna s. Labyrinthus) consists of two parts, viz.: (1) a complex membranous sac, which supports the auditory cells and the peripheral ramifications of the auditory nerve; (2) a series of cavities in the petrous temporal bone, which inclose the membranous part. The first is called the =membranous labyrinth=, and contains a fluid, the =endolymph=. The second is the =osseous labyrinth=. The two are separated by the =perilymphatic space=, which is occupied by a fluid termed the =perilymph=.

THE OSSEOUS LABYRINTH

The =osseous labyrinth= (Labyrinthus osseus) (Fig. 565) is excavated in the petrous temporal bone to the inner side of the tympanic cavity. It consists of three divisions: (1) a middle part, the =vestibule=; (2) an anterior one, the =cochlea=; and (3) a posterior one, the =semicircular canals=.

1. The =vestibule= (Vestibulum) is the central part of the osseous labyrinth, and communicates in front with the cochlea, behind with the semicircular canals. It is a small, irregularly ovoid cavity, which is about 5 to 6 mm. in length. Its outer wall separates it from the tympanic cavity, and in it is the =fenestra vestibuli=, which is occupied by the base of the stapes. The inner wall corresponds to the fundus of the internal auditory meatus. It is crossed by an oblique ridge, the =crista vestibuli=, which separates two recesses. The anterior and smaller of these is the =recessus sphæricus=, which lodges the saccule of the membranous labyrinth. In its lower part there are about a dozen minute foramina which transmit filaments of the vestibular nerve to the saccule. The posterior and larger depression is the =recessus ellipticus=, which lodges the utricle of the membranous labyrinth. The crista vestibuli divides below into two divergent branches, which include between them the small =recessus cochlearis=; this is perforated by small foramina, through which nerve-bundles reach the ductus cochlearis. Similar foramina in the recessus ellipticus and the crista vestibuli transmit nerve filaments to the utricle and the ampullæ of the superior and external semicircular ducts. The anterior wall is pierced by an opening which leads into the scala vestibuli of the cochlea. The posterior part of the vestibule presents the four openings of the semicircular canals. The inner opening of the =aquæductus vestibuli= is a small slit behind the lower part of the crista vestibuli. The aquæductus passes backward in the petrous temporal bone, and opens on the inner surface of the latter near the middle of its posterior border; it contains the ductus endolymphaticus.

2. The =osseous semicircular canals= (Canales semicirculares ossei), three in number, are situated behind and above the vestibule. They are at right angles to each other, and are designated according to their positions as superior, posterior, and external. They communicate with the vestibule by four openings only, since the inner end of the superior and the upper end of the posterior canal unite to form a common canal (Crus commune), and the ampullate ends of the superior and external canals have a common orifice. Each canal forms about two-thirds of a circle, one end of which is enlarged and termed the =ampulla=. The =superior canal= (Canalis semicircularis superior) is nearly vertical and is placed obliquely with regard to a sagittal plane, so that its outer limb is further forward than the inner one. The antero-external end is the ampulla and opens into the vestibule with that of the external canal. The opposite non-dilated end joins the adjacent end of the posterior canal to form the crus commune, which opens into the supero-internal part of the vestibule. The =posterior canal= (Canalis semicircularis posterior) is also nearly vertical. Its ampulla is below, and opens into the vestibule directly, while the non-dilated end joins that of the superior canal. The =external canal= (Canalis semicircularis lateralis) is nearly horizontal. Its ampulla is external and opens into the vestibule with that of the superior canal.

3. The =cochlea= is the anterior part of the bony labyrinth. It has the form of a short blunt cone, the =base= of which (Basis cochleæ) corresponds to the anterior part of the fundus of the internal auditory meatus, while the =apex= or =cupola= (Cupula) is directed outward, forward, and downward. It measures about 7 mm. across the base and about 4 mm. from base to apex. It consists of a =spiral canal= (Canalis spiralis cochleæ), which forms two and a half turns around a central column termed the =modiolus=. The modiolus diminishes rapidly in diameter from base to apex. Its base (Basis modioli) corresponds to the area cochleæ of the fundus of the internal auditory meatus, and its apex extends nearly to the cupola. Projecting from the modiolus like the thread of a screw is a thin plate of bone, the =lamina spiralis ossea=. This begins between the two fenestræ and ends near the cupola as a hook-like process (Hamulus laminæ spiralis). The lamina extends about half-way to the periphery of the cochlea and partially divides the cavity into two passages; of these, the upper one is termed the =scala vestibuli=, and the lower the =scala tympani=. The membrana basilaris extends from the free margin of the lamina to the outer wall of the cochlea and completes the septum between the two scalæ, but they communicate through the opening (Helicotrema) at the cupola. The modiolus is traversed by an axial canal which transmits the nerves to the apical coil, and by a spiral canal (canalis spiralis modioli), which follows the attached border of the lamina spiralis, and contains the spiral ganglion and vein. Close to the beginning of the scala tympani is the inner orifice of the =aquæductus cochleæ=, a small canal which opens behind the internal auditory meatus, and establishes a communication between the scala tympani and the subarachnoid space.

The =internal auditory meatus= has been described in part (vide Osteology). The fundus of the meatus is divided by a ridge (Crista transversa) into upper and lower parts. The anterior part of the upper depression (Area n. facialis) presents the cranial opening of the facial canal; and the posterior part (Area vestibularis superior) is perforated by foramina for the passage of nerves to the utricle and the ampullæ of the superior and external membranous semicircular canals. The anterior part of the inferior depression (Area cochleæ) presents a central foramen and a spiral tract of minute foramina (Tractus spiralis foraminosus) for the passage of nerves to the cochlea. Behind these is an area of small openings which transmit nerves to the saccule (Area vestibularis inferior), and a single foramen (F. singulare) for the passage of a nerve to the ampulla of the posterior semicircular canal.

THE MEMBRANOUS LABYRINTH

The =membranous labyrinth= (Labyrinthus membranaceus) lies within, but does not fill, the osseous labyrinth. It is attached to the latter by delicate trabeculæ which traverse the perilymphatic space. It conforms more or less closely to the bony labyrinth, but consists of four divisions, since the vestibule contains two membranous sacs—the utricle and saccule.

1. The =utricle= (Utriculus), the larger of the two sacs, lies in the postero-superior part of the vestibule, largely in the recessus ellipticus. It receives the openings of the membranous semicircular canals, and the small =ductus utriculo-saccularis= leads from its lower part to the ductus endolymphaticus.

2. The =saccule= (Sacculus) is situated in the recessus sphæricus of the vestibule. From its lower part the =ductus reuniens= proceeds to open into the ductus cochlearis, a little in front of the blind end of the latter. A second narrow tube, the =ductus endolymphaticus=, passes from the posterior part of the saccule, and is joined by the ductus utriculo-saccularis; it then traverses the aquæductus vestibuli, and terminates under the dura mater on the posterior part of the internal surface of the petrous temporal bone in a dilated blind end, the saccus endolymphaticus.

3. The =membranous semicircular canals= (Ductus semicirculares) correspond in general to the osseous canals already described, but it may be noted that while the ampullæ of the membranous canals nearly fill those of the osseous canals, the other parts of the membranous canals only occupy about one-fourth of the bony cavities.

4. The =cochlear duct= (Ductus cochlearis) is a spiral tube situated within the cochlea. It begins by a blind end (Cæcum vestibulare) in the cochlear recess of the vestibule, and ends by a second blind end (Cæcum cupulare), which is attached to the cupola of the cochlea. The vestibular part is connected with the saccule by the ductus reuniens. The duct is triangular in cross-section, and it is usual to regard it as having three walls. The vestibular wall or roof, which separates the cochlear duct from the scala vestibuli, is formed by the very delicate =membrana vestibularis= (of Reissner), which extends obliquely from the lamina spiralis ossea to the outer wall of the cochlea. The tympanic wall or floor intervenes between the cochlear duct and the scala tympani; it is formed by the periosteum of the marginal part of the lamina spiralis and the =membrana basilaris=, which stretches between the free edge of the lamina and the outer wall of the cochlea. The outer wall consists of the fibrous lining of the cochlea, which is greatly thickened to form the =ligamentum spirale cochleæ=.

FIG. 570.—LEFT MEMBRANOUS LABYRINTH (ENLARGED).