MASTOID CELLS: ANATOMOFUNCTIONAL REVIEW

Abstract

Research model: bibliography reviewing. Intends: maximize the knowledge about the development and pneumatization of the temporal bone, understanding the mastoid air cells distribution over the bone, regarding sexual and ages characteristics. Metodologic: reviewing the available bibliography on the last twenty years at the main scientific indexes: PUBMED, MEDLINE, BIREME, SCIELO, supported by well-know Human Anatomy agreements. Conclusions: We concluded that mastoid air cells development starts intra-uterus and usually ends at the first five years of life, but may last until the twenties. It may be influenced by several factors that vary the adult pneumatization, including pathological condition of medium ear at infantry and by environmental variation and different genetic code. We do not find relevance in gender nor in bilateral asymmetries, even if it is hard to quantify such differences in the reviewed studies. The cavity concentration is higher at the mastoid process, but usually deploys up to the petrous apex.The real knowledge about pneumatization, distribution and variable mastoid air cells has not reach a final status needed for further investigation following uniform and larger samples.