Fetal development of the human tympanic ossicular chain articulations

Abstract

Objectives: To obtain further knowledge on the morphogenesis of the articulations in the tympanic ossicular chain in humans.

Material and methods: In 25 temporal bones of human fetuses the structural development of incudomallear, incudostapedial and stapediovestibular articulations was studied. The chronological ages were between the 7th week (21 mm) and the 29th week (270 mm).

Results and discussion: Incudomallear articulation showed diarthrosis and sellar joint characteristics. It showed a homogenous interzone in the 7th week of development, a three-layered interzone in the 8th week, the first cavitation signs in the 9th week and the presence of an articular cavity in the 10th week. The presence of a hyaline cartilage covering articular surfaces was observed starting in the 20th week of development. Incudostapedial articulation showed typical characteristics of a diarthrosis and spheroidal joint with a homogenous interzone at the 7th week, showing similar characteristics for 12 weeks, and completed its cavitation at the 16th week. We observed hyaline cartilage on articular surfaces from 29 weeks. Stapediovestibular articulation showed typical characteristics of syndesmosis. The annular ligament primordium derived from cartilage differentiation, both from stapedial footplate and from the surrounding otic capsule, into mesenchyme and its subsequent transformation into fibrous tissue, reaching definitive characteristics from the 12th week.