Morphometric Study of Malleus, Incus, and Stapes of Middle Ear Along With Associated Clinical Significance

Abstract

The ear ossicles transmit sound from the external ear to the inner ear. The aplasia, hypoplasia, erosion, and trauma to the ear ossicles cause conductive deafness, which can be corrected by ossiculoplasty, for which detailed knowledge of morphometry of the ear ossicles is very essential. So, the study was carried out. The aim of the study is to analyze the morphometric data and correlate it with clinical significance. The study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy using 47 malleus, 46 incus, and 10 stapes of known age, sex, and side. The various parameters of these ossicles were measured with vernier calipers. The parameters were compared with other studies, and associated clinical significance was elaborated. The means in mm of the total length, length of handle, length, and width of the head of the malleus are 6.8 ± 0.5, 4.4 ± 0.4, 2.7 ± 0.3, and 2.6 ± 0.3, respectively. The mean of the total length, width, length of long process and short process of incus in mm are 6.7 ± 0.5, 4.7 ± 0.4, 3.7 ± 0.3, and 2.7 ± 0.4, respectively. The mean of the total height, length, and width of the foot plate of stapes in millimeters are 3.2 ± 0.4, 2.7 ± 0.2, and 0.8 ± 0.3, respectively. The various parameters associated with ear ossicles of different populations were found to vary on the right and left sides and also in different sexes. The data will be of immense use in ossiculoplasty and the designing of prostheses to restore hearing.