Morphology of the Stapediovestibular Joint

A series of temporal bones taken from humans and laboratory animals was examined by light and scanning electron microscopy for the incidence, size, and location of articular spaces in the stapediovestibular joint. Joint cavities were found in 70% of adult human joints. None were found in children. the majority were located in the posterior pole of the joint. on the average, they extended through one-tenth of the length of the circumferential joint. Comparative anatomy of the joint in laboratory animals was found to differ significantly among various species.