Vestibular aqueduct

Vestibular aqueduct
Vestibular aqueduct
	Interior of right osseous labyrinth.
	The cochlea and vestibule, viewed from above. (Aquaeductus vestibuli labeled at bottom right.)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	aquaeductus vestibuli
MeSH	D014723
TA98	A15.3.03.057
TA2	6940
FMA	77821
	Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

At the posterior lateral wall of the temporal bone is the vestibular aqueduct, which extends to the posterior surface of the petrous portion of the temporal bone.^[1] The vestibular aqueduct parallels the petrous apex, in contrast to the cochlear aqueduct, which lies perpendicular to the petrous apex.

It transmits a small vein, and contains a tubular prolongation of the membranous labyrinth, the ductus endolymphaticus, which ends in a cul-de-sac, the endolymphatic sac, between the layers of the dura mater within the cranial cavity.

Pathology

Enlargement of the vestibular aqueduct to greater than 2 mm is associated with enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome, a disease entity that is associated with one-sided hearing loss in children. The diagnosis can be made by high resolution CT or MRI, with comparison to the adjacent posterior semicircular canal. If the vestibular aqueduct is larger in size, and the clinical presentation is consistent, the diagnosis can be made. Treatment is with mechanical hearing implants. There is an association with Pendred syndrome and incomplete cochlear partition (so called "Mondini dysplasia").^[2]

Additional images

Base of the skull. Upper surface.
Temporal bone

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1048 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

^ "Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome".
^ Atkin, J. S.; Grimmer, J. F.; Hedlund, G; Park, A. H. (2009). "Cochlear abnormalities associated with enlarged vestibular aqueduct anomaly". International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. 73 (12): 1682–5. doi:10.1016/j.ijporl.2009.08.028. PMID 19775757.

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[1] "Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome".

[2] Atkin, J. S.; Grimmer, J. F.; Hedlund, G; Park, A. H. (2009). "Cochlear abnormalities associated with enlarged vestibular aqueduct anomaly". International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. 73 (12): 1682–5. doi:10.1016/j.ijporl.2009.08.028. PMID 19775757.

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