Corpus: Mastoid process
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from ancient Greek: μαστός ("mastos") - breast; -eidḗs ("oid") - similar
Synonym: mastoid process, mastoid
English:
Definition[Bearbeiten]
The mastoid process is a prominent, pneumatised bony prominence of the temporal bone (os temporale).
Anatomy[Bearbeiten]
The mastoid process forms the posterior part of the temporal bone. It is more pronounced in men than in women.
Outer surface[Bearbeiten]
The outer surface of the mastoid process is rough and serves as the insertion for the following muscles:
- sternocleidomastoid muscle
- Musculus splenius capitis
- Musculus longissimus capitis
- digastric muscle
Internal spaces[Bearbeiten]
The mastoid is highly pneumatised. The pneumatisation spaces are also known as mastoid cells (cellulae mastoideae). Their development is subject to great individual differences. They are larger in the cranial part of the mastoid process than in the caudal part. Here they are connected to the tympanic cavity via the antrum mastoideum (aditus ad antrum). They are categorised according to their location:
- scaly cells (in the pars squamosa ossis temporalis)
- periantral cells (around the antrum mastoideum)
- retrosinous cells (marginal cells)
- retrofacial cells (threshold cells)
- Terminal cells (in the area of the mastoid tip)
- Citelli cells (in the area of the Citelli angle)
- Pogány cells (above the facial canal)
Clinic[Bearbeiten]
The mastoid process can be easily palpated and percussed through the skin. In mastoiditis or otitis media, the mastoid is tender to palpation.