The bony labyrinth of mammals, a delicate and complex cavity within the petrosal, houses the organs of hearing and equilibrium of the inner ear. Because this region is typically lodged deep within the skull, there have been few morphological studies of the bony labyrinth in fossils—where it frequently is completely enveloped by surrounding bone and sediment matrix. The recent development of hig...

The membranous labyrinth is contained within the bony labyrinth and surrounded by perilymph. The only two 'potentially yielding' parts of the otherwise solid bony labyrinth are the oval and round windows, which by their relative movements, pressure differentials and resilience are responsible for all the functions attributed to the inner ear. In pathologies, such as trauma, infection or occasio...

Approved: ____________________________________ Thesis Supervisor ____________________________________ Title and Department ____________________________________ Date 3 THE ROLES OF N-MYC AND L-MYC DURING INNER EAR NEUROSENSORY DEVELOPMENT by Benjamin Joseph Kopecky A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biology in the Graduate College...

In eutherian mammals, embryonic growth and survival is dependent on the formation of the placenta, an organ that facilitates the efficient exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and metabolic waste between the maternal and fetal blood supplies. Key to the placenta's function is the formation of its vascular labyrinth, a series of finely branched vessels whose molecular ontogeny remains largely undefine...

Unusual expression of interleukin-1alpha, -1beta and -6 was previously found in the epiphyseal cartilage of rat fetuses prenatally exposed to various non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID, i.e., ibuprofen, piroxicam, tolmetin) and selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor (DFU). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of placenta in such phenomenon. Morphology of the organ, thic...

Introduction The membranes of the inferior division of the labyrinth in some mammals appear more vulnerable to hydropic distention than those of the superior division. This finding in guinea pigs, cats, and humans has been attributed to the evidently thinner membranes with implied higher stress levels. Objective The objective of this study is to identify other configurational features, if any, ...

Objective To develop a three-dimensional study tool of the membranous labyrinth in order to study the pathophysiology, diagnostic workup and treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). BPPV is the most common cause of peripheral vertigo. Its diagnosis and treatment depend on an understanding of the anatomy of the vestibular labyrinth and its position relative to the head. To date,...

In this, our second temporal bone installment, we will emphasize the vestibular portion of the labyrinth, that relating to balance and equilibrium. Before proceeding, we must again remind the reader of the basic structure of the labyrinth: an inner membranous labyrinth (endolymphatic) surrounded by an outer osseous labyrinth with an interposed supportive perilymphatic labyrinth. We recommend pe...

The ant in the labyrinth: random walks and percolation – p.

The labyrinth is the highly vascularized part of the rodent placenta that allows efficient transfer of gases, nutrients, wastes, and other molecules between the maternal and embryonic circulations. These two blood compartments are separated by blastocyst-derived trophoblasts and endothelial cells with an intervening basement membrane that contains laminin and other typical basement membrane com...