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Relationship between surface area and volume of the mastoid air cell system in adult humans

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 January 2011

J D Swarts ,
B M Cullen Doyle  and
W J Doyle
J D Swarts*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, USA
B M Cullen Doyle
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, USA
W J Doyle
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, USA
*
Address for correspondence: Dr J Douglas Swarts, 3420 5th Ave, Oakland Medical Bldg, Room 118, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA Fax: +1 412 692 7555 E-mail: dswarts@pitt.edu
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Abstract

Introduction:

The geometry of the adult human mastoid air cell system has not previously been described over a large range of mastoid air cell volumes.

Methods:

Twenty subjects with a wide range of mastoid air cell pneumatised areas, as determined by X-ray, underwent computed tomography scanning of the middle ear. Mastoid air cell surface areas and volumes were then reconstructed from serial imaging sections, using Image J software.

Results:

Mastoid air cell volumes varied from 0.7 to 21.4 ml, and were linearly related to the pneumatised area. Right and left mastoid air cell volumes and surface areas were highly correlated. The mastoid air cell surface area was a linear function of volume.

Conclusion:

The relationship between mastoid air cell surface area and volume is similar over a wide range of volumes. Given that the rate of gas exchange across the mastoid air cell mucosa is related to the mastoid air cell surface area, that rate will thus also be a direct linear function of the mastoid air cell volume.

Keywords

MastoidAnatomyEar, MiddleDiagnostic ImagingPathology
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 125 , Issue 6 , June 2011 , pp. 580 - 584
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2011

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