Branched ends of Reichert’s cartilage in the ear: a histological study using human near-term fetuses

• DOI: 10.5115/acb.24.220
• Publication Date: 2025-02-26T02:44:12Z
• Authors: Chun-Ai Li; Zhe-Wu Jin; Yohei Honkura; Ai Hirano-Kawamoto; Gen Murakami; Jose Francisco Ro...; Yukio Katori

There is little information regarding whether the styloid process "inserts" deeply into temporal bone petrosa. We examined involvement of Reichert's cartilage (RC) in petrosa using sagittal or horizontal histological sections heads from 17 near-term fetuses (25-40 weeks). The cranial part RC usually carried two short branches protrusions (T-shaped appearance). One ended adjacent to future tympanic cavity, while another branch near facial nerve canal. Near latter end, a was fused with petrosa, but it rarely separated latter. When bar toward cavity absent, displayed reversed J-shaped course canal and at attachment (3 specimens). Overall, considerable variations were evident shape, length topographical relation ear. Therefore, an intra-otic root process, if identified adults, seemed not be simple inserting between vertical portion Considerable head suggested that shape likely determined by mechanical loads developing and/or bone. Those observations clearly contrast degenerating Meckel's induces ant After birth, endochondral ossification appeared expand antero-inferiorly involve all RC.