Degenerative Changes of the Arterial Vessels of the Internal Auditory Meatus During the Process of Aging a Histological Study

Abstract

Degenerative changes are observed histo-logically in the wall of the arterial vessels of the internal auditory meatus following the first decade of life in man. These changes consist mainly in a progressive thickness of the tunica adventitia accompanied by an increase of collagenous tissue and loss of fibroblasts. The increasing compactness of the adventitial layer may lead to complete acellularity and loss of structure (hyalinization). A possible functional implication of the adventitial changes observed in the arteries of the internal auditory meatus of the aging men may be a difficulty in contractibility related to the increasing amount of collagenous or hyaline tissue present in their walls.