Abstract
Background: The Uppsala collection of human temporal bones and molds is a unique resource for education and international research collaboration. Micro-computerized tomography (micro-CT) and synchrotron imaging are used to investigate the complex anatomy of the inner ear. Impaired microcirculation is etiologically linked to various inner ear disorders, and recent developments in inner ear surgery promote examination of the vascular system. Here, for the first time, we present three-dimensional (3D) data from investigations of the major vascular pathways and corresponding bone channels.Methods: We used the archival Uppsala collection of temporal bones and molds consisting of 324 inner ear casts and 113 macerated temporal bones. Micro-CT was used to investigate vascular bone channels, and 26 fresh human temporal bones underwent synchrotron radiation phase contrast imaging (SR-PCI). Data were processed by volume-rendering software to create 3D reconstructions allowing orthogonal sectioning, cropping, and soft tissue analyses.Results: Micro-CT with 3D rendering was superior in reproducing the anatomy of the vascular bone channels, while SR-PCI replicated soft tissues. Arterial bone channels were traced from scala vestibuli (SV) arterioles to the fundus, cochlea, and vestibular apparatus. Drainage routes along the aqueducts were examined.Conclusion: Human inner ear vessels are difficult to study due to the adjoining hard bone. Micro-CT and SR-PCI with 3D reconstructions revealed large portions of the micro-vascular system in un-decalcified specimens. The results increase our understanding of the organization of the vascular system in humans and how altered microcirculation may relate to inner ear disorders. The findings may also have surgical implications.
Highlights
Jan Stahle and Herrmann Wilbrand introduced the idea of developing a collection of human inner ear molds
The results demonstrate that synchrotron radiation phase contrast imaging (SR-PCI) can be used to visualize both bone and soft tissue simultaneously
The radiating arterioles of the scala vestibuli (SV) could be followed to the arteries between the first and second turns
Summary
The datasets allow multi-slicing and 3D cropping of microstructures, such as the spirally arranged blood vessels and their origins These findings may bridge limitations in our understanding of the vascular anatomy of the human labyrinth, due to the specific focus of the present study. We used non-invasive, X-ray imaging techniques to trace and visualize the major intra-cochlear blood vessels running in bone channels, including draining outlets. Datasets were fed into an open software platform for medical image informatics and 3D visualization, including virtual sectioning This allowed the tracing of separate vascular bone channels and their contents. Nabeya focused on the larger vessels in 16 fetuses and 8 adult temporal bones He found that the inner ear is supplied by only one end artery which he named the labyrinthine artery (LA).
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