Canal systems in the temporal bone and their right-left differences

The first part of the facial canal is the pars labyrinthica. Its means lateral length is in our material 2.63 mm on the right and 3.03 mm on the left side. The mean width of the pore on the fundus area was 1.3 mm on the right side and 1.07 mm on the left. The geniculate fossa had a mean length of 2.54 mm on the right and of 3.14 mm on the left side. The widths of different areas of the pars labyrinthica and fossa geniculata were also measured. The angle between the first and second parts of the Fallopian canal was estimated with different methods. The mean width of the tympanic part of the facial canal was found to be 1.79 mm on the right side and 1.67 mm on the left, the mean width of the mastoideal part was 1.8 mm on the right side and 1.7 mm on the left. Distances of the mastoideal part of the Fallopian canal to mastoideal cells, ear drum, sigmoid sinus and external surface of the temporal bone were also measured. Measurements of the sigmoid sinus, the bulb of internal jugular vein and the cavum musculi stapedii are included, too. The ranges found in our material are also given.