Endolymphatic sac

From the posterior wall of the saccule a canal, the endolymphatic duct, is given off; this duct is joined by the utriculosaccular duct, and then passes along the vestibular aqueduct and ends in a blind pouch, the endolymphatic sac, on the posterior surface of the petrous portion of the temporal bone, where it is in contact with the dura mater. Studies suggest that the endolymphatic duct and endolymphatic sac perform both absorptive and secretory,[1][2][3][4] as well as phagocytic[5] and immunodefensive, functions.[6]

Neoplasms of the endolymphatic sac are very rare tumors.

References

Public domain This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1052 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. ^ Schuknecht HF. Pathology of the Ear. Philadelphia, Pa: Lea & Febiger; 1993:45–47, 50–51, 62, 64, 101
  2. ^ Wackym PA, Friberg U, Bagger-Sjo¨ba¨ck D, Linthicum FH Jr, Friedmann I, Rask-Andersen H. Human endolymphatic sac: possible mechanisms of pressure regulation. J Laryngol Otol 1987; 101:768–779
  3. ^ Yeo SW, Gottschlich S, Harris JP, Keithley EM. Antigen diffusion from the perilymphatic space of the cochlea. Laryngoscope 1995; 105:623–628
  4. ^ Rask-Andersen H, Danckwardt-Lilliestrom N, Linthicum FH, House WF. Ultrastructural evidence of a merocrine secretion in the human endolymphatic sac. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1991; 100:148–156
  5. ^ Fukuzawa K, Sakagami M, Matsunaga T, Fujita H. Endocytotic activity of the free floating cells and epithelial cells in the endolymphatic sac: an electron microscopic study. Anat Rec 1991; 230:425–433
  6. ^ Wackym PA, Friberg U, Linthicum FH Jr, et al. Human endolymphatic sac: morphologic evidence of immunologic function. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1987;96:276–282

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