We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Sphenomandibular ligament and degenerating Meckel's cartilage revisited: Sequential variations with temporal bone deformity for ligament attachment in near‐term human fetuses.
- Authors
Jin, Zhe‐Wu; Honkura, Yohei; Yamamoto, Masahito; Hayashi, Shogo; Murakami, Gen; Abe, Hiroshi; Rodríguez‐Vázquez, José Francisco
- Abstract
Background: The sphenomandibular ligament (SML) is considered to originate from Meckel's cartilage (MC). However, no study has examined how the os goniale contributes to SML development. Methods: Semiserial histological sections of heads from 18 near‐term fetuses at 27–40 weeks of gestation were examined. Observations: The os goniale and the anterior process of the malleus (AP) provided a long, bar‐like membranous bone complex that passed through the petrotympanic and tympanosquamosal fissures. Notably, the AP–goniale complex is sometimes elongated inferiorly to join the SML (n = 4 specimens). Along the complex in the bone fissures, a degenerating MC was often present (n = 12). With (n = 6) or without (n = 3) the MC remnant, the tympanic bone (TYB) protruded inferomedially near the tympanosquamosal fissure, and it sometimes continued to a cartilaginous SML (n = 3). The temporal bone squamosa or petrosa provided a similar bony process approaching the SML. The middle meningeal artery often ran between the sphenoid and petrosa. Conclusions: Most of the specimens (n = 15) exhibited a sequential change from a cartilaginous SML as a continuation of the MC remnant to the ligament after the disappearance of the cartilage. The degenerating MC appeared to cause transformation from the AP–goniale complex and/or TYB to "another ligament" that replaced the usual SML at the upper part. Near the MC remnant, a similar transformation was also suggested on the squamosa or petrosa. The sphenoid spine appeared to originate often from the sphenoid ala major but sometimes from the TYB.
- Publication
Journal of Anatomy, 2024, Vol 244, Issue 3, p514
- ISSN
0021-8782
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/joa.13974