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High jugular bulb: different osseous landmarks and their clinical implications

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this investigation was to compare the rate of high jugular bulb (HJB) in relation to internal acoustic meatus (IAM), round window (RW) and endolymphatic sac and to study their clinical implications.

Methods

Eighty-seven cadaveric non-pathologic human temporal bones were micro-dissected to expose the jugular fossa (JF) and RW. The minimum distance of JF from RW was measured. On the inner surface of petrous part of temporal bone, minimum vertical distance of JF from IAM and saccus endolymphaticus (E sac) was also measured. If the distance of summit of JF from RW or IAM was ≤2 mm or if there was no distance between JF and slit on which E sac opens, they were classified as HJB cases.

Results

The mean minimum distance of JF from the RW, IAM and E sac was found to be 2.85 ± 1.58, 3.83 ± 2.38 and 2.06 ± 2.38 mm and the rate of HJB was 32.2, 24.1 and 41.4 % respectively.

Conclusions

The rate of HJB varies even in a particular specimen using different landmarks i.e. the RW, IAM and E sac. The preoperative awareness in relation to these landmarks will be useful in cochlear implantation, surgical removal of vestibular schwanommas and clinical findings of Meniere’s disease.

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Acknowledgments

The authors sincerely thank Mr Vijay Kant Bakshi and Mr Pradeep for skillful photography and Mr Puneet Singal for his help in data analysis. Authors are also thankful to the cadavers and their family members for donation of their bodies. May their soul live in peace. The study was supported by a Grant from the Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India (Grant No. 51/2/2011-BMS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Bhojia Dental College and Hospital, Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, 173205, India

    Anjali Singla

  2. Department of Anatomy, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India

    Tulika Gupta, Daisy Sahni & Anjali Aggarwal

  3. Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head-Neck Surgery, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India

    Ashok Gupta

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  1. Anjali Singla
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Correspondence to Anjali Singla.

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Singla, A., Gupta, T., Sahni, D. et al. High jugular bulb: different osseous landmarks and their clinical implications. Surg Radiol Anat 38, 903–909 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-016-1649-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-016-1649-2

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