A Study on Stapes Morphometry from Mangalore, Karnataka

An anatomical detail of ossicular chain is of paramount importance in understanding the pathology and structural reconstruction of the ossicles. As stapes is located strategically between incus and fenestra vestibuli, its morphological aspects gains importance in all aspects of ossicular replacement surgeries, in electromagnetic middle ear implants and in ossiculoplasties. Study of variations of the stapes will help in understanding the diverse origin of its components. The present study attempts to provide morphometric detail of the stapes and also show light on the morphological variations. 25 human head specimens taken from the dissection hall, after removal of brain and duramater, subarcuate fossa and arcuate eminance of the petrous part of the temporal bone were chipped off with help of fine edged chissel and hammer. With help of bone cutter the tegmen tympani forming the remaining roof was removed, till the middle ear cavity and three ossicles are properly exposed and identified. Stapes showed maximum variations among ossicles. The mean height, width and length of stspes on both sides were found to be 3.22mm, 1.72 mm and 2.62mm respectively. The mean weight of stapes found to be 2.08mg. The weight of left sided stapes were more than the right sided stapes. Maximum variations of stapes proves its diverse embryological development.