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Comparison of fetal and adult tympanic membrane sizes: a cadaveric study

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Abstract

Objective

The work aimed to compare fetal and adult tympanic membrane (TM) sizes for understanding dimensional development from intrauterine life to adulthood.

Methods

Fifty-six temporal bones (18 fetuses, 10 elderly adults, half male and half female in each group) were included in this study. Using a digital image software, the TM height, width and area were measured.

Results

The mean area, height and width of the TM in adults were found as 58.84 ± 22.01 mm2, 9.06 ± 1.33 mm, and 8.10 ± 1.43 mm, respectively. Moreover, the mean area, height and width of the TM in fetuses were measured as 47.62 ± 12.57 mm2, 8.22 ± 1.12 mm, and 7.25 ± 1.15 mm, respectively. The TM dimensions were increasing in fetuses between 20–32 weeks of gestation. However, the TM dimension was statistically similar at the 7th month, the 8th month and adult periods. The TM height was greater than its width in fetuses and adults.

Conclusion

The calculated regression equations of the TM parameters in fetuses may be used to estimate its size. The TM size did not change from the 7th gestational month, and thus the membrane reached adult diameter in fetal life. The TM height and width showed a very wide range; therefore, we thought that the 12 mm (the height) × 10 mm (the width) graft might be ideal dimension during the repair of the TM perforations.

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Acknowledgement

Deniz Ladin Özdemir and Fatma Müdüroğlu participated to this study as visiting students.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, Ciftlikkoy Campus, 33343, Mersin, Turkey

    Orhan Beger & Alev Bobuş Örs

  2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey

    Yusuf Vayisoğlu & Derya Ümit Talas

  3. Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul Okan University, İstanbul, Turkey

    Deniz Ladin Özdemir

  4. Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, İstanbul, Turkey

    Fatma Müdüroğlu

  5. Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey

    Pourya Taghipour

  6. Department of Histology and Embryology, Mersin City Hospital, Mersin, Turkey

    Oykut Dağtekin

Authors
  1. Orhan Beger
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  2. Yusuf Vayisoğlu
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  3. Alev Bobuş Örs
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  4. Deniz Ladin Özdemir
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  5. Fatma Müdüroğlu
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  6. Pourya Taghipour
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  7. Oykut Dağtekin
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  8. Derya Ümit Talas
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Contributions

OB, DLÖ, FM, PT, DÜT: project development, data collection, data analysis, manuscript writing. YV, ABÖ, OD: Data analysis, Manuscript editing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Orhan Beger.

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Beger, O., Vayisoğlu, Y., Örs, A.B. et al. Comparison of fetal and adult tympanic membrane sizes: a cadaveric study. Surg Radiol Anat 43, 161–167 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-020-02593-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-020-02593-6

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