Facial canal

The facial canal (Canalis nervi facialis), also known as the Fallopian canal,[1] first described by Gabriele Falloppio, is a Z-shaped canal running through the temporal bone from the internal acoustic meatus to the stylomastoid foramen. In humans it is approximately 3 centimeters long, which makes it the longest human osseous canal of a nerve.[2] It is located within the middle ear region, according to its shape it is divided into three main segments: the labyrinthine, the tympanic, and the mastoidal segment.[3] It contains Cranial Nerve VII, also known as the facial nerve.

Facial canal
Route of facial nerve, with facial canal labeled
View of the inner wall of the tympanum. (Facial canal visible in upper left; promontory labeled at center)
Details
Identifiers
Latincanalis nervi facialis, canalis facialis
TA98A02.1.06.009
TA2688
FMA54952
Anatomical terminology

Prominence

The prominence of the facial canal (or prominence of the aqueduct of Fallopius) indicates the position of the bony facial canal in which the facial nerve is contained; this canal traverses the medial wall of the tympanic cavity above the oval window, and behind this it curves nearly vertically downward along the posterior wall.

  • Lateral head anatomy detail. Facial nerve dissection.
  • Tympanic cavity. Facial canal. Internal carotid artery.
  • Coronal section of right temporal bone. Prominence of the facial canal labeled at top, fourth from the left.

See also

References
  1. Abing W, Rauchfuss A (2005). "Fetal development of the tympanic part of the facial canal". European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology. 243 (6): 374–377. doi:10.1007/bf00464645. PMID 3566620. S2CID 12712839.
  2. Weiglein AH (June 1996). "Postnatal development of the facial canal. An investigation based on cadaver dissections and computed tomography". Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy. 18 (2): 115–23. doi:10.1007/BF01795229. PMID 8782317. S2CID 25764734.
  3. Weiglein AH, Anderhuber W, Jakse R, Einspieler R (1994). "Imaging of the facial canal by means of multiplanar angulated 2-D-high-resolution CT-reconstruction". Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy. 16 (4): 423–427. doi:10.1007/BF01627665. PMID 7725200. S2CID 10477288.
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