Facial canal

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Facial canal
skeletal
Nervefacial nerve (CN VII)
Identifiers
Latincanalis nervi facialis,
canalis facialis
TA98A02.1.06.009
TA2688
FMA54952
Anatomical terminology]

The facial canal (also known as the Fallopian canal) is a Z-shaped canal in the

internal acoustic meatus and stylomastoid foramen. It transmits the facial nerve (CN VII)
(after which it is named).

Anatomy

The facial canal gives passage to the

better source needed
]

The facial nerve gives rise to three nerves while passing through the canal: the

nerve to stapedius, and the chorda tympani.[3]

Structure

Horizontal part

The proximal portion of the facial canal is termed the horizontal part. It commences at the introitus of facial canal at the distal end of the internal auditory meatus. The horizontal part is further subdivided into two crura: the proximal/medial[4] anteriolaterally[5] directed medial crus (or labyrinthine segment[5]), and the distal/lateral[4] posteriolaterally[5] directed lateral crus (or tympanic segment[5]); the two crura meet at a sharp angle at the genu of facial canal (geniculum canalis facialis[6]) where the geniculate ganglion is situated (at the genu, the greater petrosal nerve leaves the facial canal through the hiatus of the facial canal).[4]

Descending part

The lateral crus of horizontal part ends by turning sharply inferior-ward, commencing the distal-most descending part (or mastoid segment

nerve to stapedius enters the canaliculus for nerve to stapedius, and the chorda tympani enters the posterior canaliculus of chorda tympani (canaliculus chordae tympani, or iter chordae posterius[7]).[8]

Relations

The labyrinthine segment is situated superior to cochlea.[5]

The canal traverses the

lateral semicircular canal.[5]

Clinical significance

The facial canal may be interrupted in some people. This may lead to the facial nerve being split into 2 or 3 fibres, or it may be poorly formed or congenitally absent on one side.[2]

History

The facial canal was first described by Gabriele Falloppio.[10] This is why it may also be known as the Fallopian canal.[10]

Gallery

  • Lateral head anatomy detail. Facial nerve dissection.
    Lateral head anatomy detail. Facial nerve dissection.
  • Tympanic cavity. Facial canal. Internal carotid artery.
    Tympanic cavity. Facial canal. Internal carotid artery.
  • Coronal section of right temporal bone. Prominence of the facial canal labeled at top, fourth from the left.
    Coronal section of right temporal bone. Prominence of the facial canal labeled at top, fourth from the left.

See also

  • Facial nerve
  • Prominence of the facial canal
  • Hiatus of the facial canal

References

  1. PMID 1762775
    .
  2. ^
    S2CID 25764734
    .
  3. ISBN 978-1-4963-4721-3
    .
  4. ^ a b c "horizontal part of facial canal". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  5. ^
    S2CID 205411993
    .
  6. ^ "genu of facial canal". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  7. ^ "posterior canaliculus of chorda tympani". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  8. ^ "descending part of facial canal". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  9. OCLC 1201341621.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link
    )
  10. ^
    S2CID 12712839
    .
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