Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Development of ossification in the vertical semicircular canals: tomographic study

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To describe the ontogeny of vertical semicircular canals using computed tomography.

Materials and methods

We have studied 39 human fetuses aged between 17 and 38 weeks of development through multi-helicoidal CT.

Results

The first signs of ossification in the semicircular canals, superior and posterior, are from 19 weeks of development, through two primary ossification centers in each canal, which will take part in the formation of the outer cover oriented towards the middle and posterior brain fossae, respectively. In this process it must be added the intervention of the common branch. Internal bone covers are formed by ossification of the fossa subarcuata in the superior semicircular canal, and from the compact center of the labyrinthine capsule into the posterior canal. The tomographic study has allowed us to demonstrate how ossification follows a variable rate, establishing a period between 21 and 26 weeks where there are completely closed canals with others still open to the brain fossae.

Conclusions

The tomographic study of the semicircular canals has enabled us to establish a critical period in its ossification that could explain the etiology of the congenital-type dehiscence.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Anson BJ, Davies J (1982) Embriología del oído. En: otorrinolaringología. Paparella-Shumrick. ed. Médica Panamericana, Buenos aires

    Google Scholar 

  2. Anson BJ. (1988) Anatomía y embriología. En: enfermedades de la nariz, garganta, oído, cabeza y cuello. Ballenger JJ, Ed. Salvat

  3. Bach-Peterson S, Kjaer I (1993) Ossification of lateral components in the prenatal cranial base. J Craniofac Genet Dev Biol 13:76–82

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bergeron RT (1991) Introduction to the temporal bone. En: Head and neck imaging. Som PM, Bergeron RT. Ed Mosby, pp 927–934

  5. Carey JP, Minor LB, Nager GT (2000) Dehiscence or thinning of bone overlying the superior semicircular canal in a temporal bone survey. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 126:137–147. https://doi.org/10.1001/archotol.126.2.137

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Dzieciolowska-Baran E (2007) Development of the osseous structures of internal ear in human foetuses. Ann Acad Med Stetin 53(3):10–19

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Jeffery N, Spoor F (2004) Prenatal growth and development of the modern human labyrinth. J Anat 204(2):71–92. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7580.2004.00250.x

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Nemzek WR, Brodie HA, Chong BW, Babcook CJ, Hecht ST, Salamat S, Ellis WG, Seibert JA (1996) Imaging findings of the developing temporal bone in fetal specimens. Am J Neuroradiol 17:1467–1477

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Olaizola F, Horna J (1982) Embriología del oído. Acta Otolaringol Esp 33:11–29

    Google Scholar 

  10. Porowski L, Radziemski A, Piotrowski A, Skórzewska A, Wozniak W (2003) The fetal development of the human osseus labyrinth in a computed tomographic study. Folia Morphol 62(3):281–283

    Google Scholar 

  11. Richard C, Laroche N, Malaval L, Dumollard JM, Martin CH, Peoch M, Vico L, Prades JM (2010) New insight into the bony labyrinth: a microcomputed tomography study. Auris Nasus Larynx 37(2):155–161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anl.2009.04.014

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Richard C, Courbon G, Laroche N, Prades JM, Vico L, Malaval L (2017) Inner ear ossification and mineralization kinetics in human embryonic development-microtomographic and histomorphological study. Sci Rep 7:4825. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-05151-0

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Smith-Agreda V, Ferres Torres EY, Montesinos Castro–Girona M (1985) Atlas-tratado de anatomía del sistema nervioso con introducción a la clínica y EEG. Ed Gregori, Valencia

    Google Scholar 

  14. Whyte J, Cisneros A, Martínez C, Gracia-Tello B, Whyte A, Crovetto R, Crovetto MA (2013) Congenital dehiscence in the posterior semicircular canal. Otol Neurotol 34(6):1134–1137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.otorri.2015.09.006

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Yus C, Cisneros A, Obón J, Crovetto R, Fraile J, Crovetto MA y Whyte J (2014) Peculiaridades en el desarrollo del canal semicircular superior. Acta Otorrinolaringol Esp 65:237–241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.otoeng.2016.07.001

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, School of Medicine, University of Zaragoza, C/Domingo Miral, s/n, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain

    Ana Isabel Cisneros, Marta Herreros, Jesús Obón & Jaime Whyte

Authors
  1. Ana Isabel Cisneros
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Marta Herreros
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jesús Obón
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jaime Whyte
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Protocol/project development: AC, JW. Data collection: MH. Data analysis: AC, JW, JO. Manuscript writing/editing: AC, JW.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ana Isabel Cisneros.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

This paper has not been published before and is not under simultaneous consideration by any other publication. All authors are in agreement with the content of the manuscript.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cisneros, A.I., Herreros, M., Obón, J. et al. Development of ossification in the vertical semicircular canals: tomographic study. Surg Radiol Anat 40, 1093–1098 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-018-2053-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-018-2053-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation