Affiliation:
1. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2. Los Angeles, California
3. Pasadena, California
Abstract
The anatomy of the human endolymphatic duct system of three cases — one with Menière's syndrome (with no histopathological evidence of endolymphatic hydrops), one with Menière's disease (with histopathological evidence of endolymphatic hydrops), and one with no evidence of disease — has been studied by means of computer-aided and graphic reconstruction from serial sections of temporal bones. The reconstructions have revealed a canalicular arrangement of the epithelial lining of the rugose portion of the human endolymphatic sac. Accordingly, new nomenclature, “pars canalicularis,” is suggested for this portion. The computer produced lateral and medial views of the endolymphatic duct and sac of the patient with Menière's syndrome. The computer also calculated the luminal volume, the surface area of the epithelium, and the surface-to-volume ratio of the rugose portion of the sac. In addition, the authors graphically reconstructed the rugose portion of the sac of all three cases. Measurements of the dimensions of these reconstructions were made, from which the luminal volume was estimated. The reconstructed images and the calculations allowed quantitative comparison of the microscopic anatomy of the rugose portion of the sac in the Menière's syndrome and Menière's disease ears with that in an ear without evidence of disease. Significant differences were found in the volumes of the rugose portion of the sac of the three cases. The results suggest that the luminal volume of the rugose portion of the sac of Menière's disease patients may be significantly reduced. The authors speculate that endolymphatic hydrops may be the result of a loss of epithelial surface area in the canalicular portion, thus diminishing its resorptive function. The computer and graphic reconstruction techniques in conjunction with their analytical capabilities provide a new method for studying inner ear structures. These techniques have the potential to expand the capabilities of quantitative morphology and provide the means for deriving clinically useful data from histopathological and ultrastructural material.
Subject
General Medicine,Otorhinolaryngology
Cited by
28 articles.
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