DESPITE great progress in microotology, accurate and thorough knowledge of the anatomy in certain operative areas has not yet been completely achieved. Variable anatomy creates situations that demand a full knowledge of the area. The surgical microscope, with its high magnifications, opens operative areas that demand familiarity with every millimeter of the magnified anatomy.
One such area is a recess or sinus on the posteromedial wall of the middle ear cleft. An evolutionary ancient, it corresponds to the tympanic bulla of lower mammals.1 Its true importance, however, lies in its proximal relations, the facial nerve, stapes in the oval window, the round window, and its little known proximity to the ampulla of the posterior semicircular canal. In middle ear disease and microscopic ear surgery, knowledge of the tympanofacial recess becomes essential. This provided the incentive to the present study.
Materials and Methods
Materials consisted of 24 right and left