Objective: To investigate the sectional anatomy of lateral skull base in normal and provide data for diagnosis and selecting surgical approach of lesions of lateral skull base.
Method: Three sets of coronal sections with plastination technique was made and investigated for the location, direction and mutual relationship in different section. Signals of some structures were extracted to reconstructed three-dimensional image.
Result: The section with plastination displayed distinct nerve, muscle, vessel, bone in lateral skull base. The structures of lateral skull base were described in five typical section: the maxillary sinus, pharyngeal orifice of pharyngotympanic duct, foramen ovale, tympanie orifice of pharyngotympanic duet, inner auditory meatus. The three-dimensional images of sphenoid sinus, ethmoid sinus, trigeminal nerve, pharyngotympanic duet and inner carotid artery after extracted the signals in serial sections.
Conclusion: Sectional anatomy with plastination contributed to understanding complicated anatomic structure including the location and mutual relationship, three dimensional image can vividly display the structure underlying lateral skull base surgery.