Tympanomastoid fissure

Last revised by Henry Atkinson on 21 Jan 2024

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Deng F, Atkinson H, Tympanomastoid fissure. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 16 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-73156

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-73156

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/73156

rID:

73156

Article created:

28 Dec 2019, Francis Deng ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Francis Deng had no recorded disclosures.

View Francis Deng's current disclosures

Last revised:

21 Jan 2024, Henry Atkinson

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Henry Atkinson had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Henry Atkinson's current disclosures

Revisions:

2 times, by 2 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Head & Neck

Sections:

Anatomy

Synonyms:

Fissura tympanomastoidea
Tympanomastoid suture

The tympanomastoid fissure is one of the intrinsic fissures of the temporal bone, located parallel and posterior to the bony external auditory canal, dividing the tympanic part of the temporal bone and mastoid process. It gives passage to the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (Arnold's nerve) from the middle ear to the preauricular soft tissues. Its radiological significance is as a fracture mimic (pseudofracture) ¹. Its surgical significance is as a commonly used palpable landmark to localize the facial nerve trunk during parotidectomy or repair after facial trauma ².