Morphometric Comparison of Endolymphatic and Perilymphatic Spaces in Human Temporal Bones

Abstract

To measure the endolymphatic and perilymphatic spaces, we used human temporal bones (horizontal serial sections) under two selection criteria: absence of otological pathology, and absence of artifact in the membranous labyrinth (boundary between endolymphatic and perilymphatic spaces) maintaining an intact structural integrity. Under magnified projection, the area of scala tympani, scala vestibuli, scala media, vestibular endolymphatic space, and vestibular perilymphatic space were measured separately, using a microcomputer digitizing tablet. Three repeated measurements were obtained and averaged. The mean total labyrinthine fluid space was 204.5 mm³; the mean total endolymphatic space was 38.1 mm³ and mean total perilymphatic space 166.4 mm³. The mean total vestibular fluid space was 120.9 mm³ and mean total cochlear fluid sapce 83.6 mm³. In the vestibule, the perilymphatic space occupied 74.8%, and the endolymphatic space, 25.2%, whereas 90.8% of the cochlear fluid space was occupied by perilymph.