Disposition of the middle ear mucosa

Abstract

The concept of mucosal mesenteries in the middle ear dates at least 100 hundred years; attention was drawn to them by Zaufal and others as long ago as 1866 (Testut, 1920), the actual word "mesenteries" being used; and it has appeared in the literature from time to time since. However, a thorough search through all material available revealed until recently only general or fragmentary allusions to these mucosal folds. (Only some of the sources will be referred to at the end of this paper.) In 1964, Bruce Proctor presented his description of the development and fate of the middle-ear pouches illustrated by a medical artist very attractively, colourfully and imaginatively. An attempt is being made here to give a true picture of these folds and pouches by showing a selection of original photographs, taken through the microscope, of 200 dissected fresh temporal bones, including some from foetuses.