Morphometric Analysis of the Human Endolymphatic Sac: Section 3. Computer-aided Three-dimensional Reconstruction of the Sac of One Meniere's Disease Case and the Sac of One Normal Case

Abstract

We used a new technique, computer-aided reconstruction of microscopic anatomy (CARMA), on the intraosseous endolymphatic sac from one temporal bone from a Meniere's disease patient and the sac from one bone from a normal-hearing patient. Findings in both specimens confirmed previous findings on the general canalicular architecture of this portion of the sac. There were three regions common to both sacs. The first, pars proximalis, was a sac-like enlargement of the endolymphatic duct located at the anterior-superior end of the intraosseous endolymphatic sac. The second, rough pars canalicularis, consisted of small interconnecting canaliculi grouped at the anterior edge of the pars canalicularis. It constituted approximately 70% of the pars canalicularis in the normal sac and 50% in Meniere's disease sac. The third region, the smooth pars canalicularis, consisted of large, sparingly interconnected canaliculi located primarily at the posterior edge. The canaliculi appeared more dilated in the Meniere's disease sac. These observations correlated well with results of Sections 1 and 2.