Mastoid Process: Location, Anatomy And Muscle Attachments

Mastoid Process: Location, Anatomy And Muscle Attachments

Write a short note on mastoid antrum.
Answer.

• The mastoid antrum is an air space in the mastoid portion of the temporal bone.
• Mastoid Antrum communicates anteriorly with the tympanic cavity through aditus ad antrum (entrance to the mastoid antrum).

Mastoid Antrum Boundaries

Roof is formed by tegmen tympani.

The lateral wall is formed by a plate of bone about 1.5 cm thick just deep into a supramental triangle.

The posterior wall is formed by a thin plate of bone that separates it from the sigmoid sinus.

Mastoid Antrum Functions

• Provides resonance to the voice.
• Acts as an acoustic insulator and provides protection to the middle ear from physical damage.
• Acts as sound receptor.

Mastoid Antrum Applied anatomy

• Mastoid air cells are a major contributor to the middle ear inflammatory disease.
• The lateral wall of the antrum is approached for surgery, through the supramental triangle.