Surgical Landmark for the Facial Nerve in the Epitympanum

The bony partition between the epitympanum and the anterior epitympanum serves as a reliable landmark for the facial nerve canal which is located at its base. The consistency of this landmark probably relates to the fact that it forms part of the fallopian canal during fetal development. This surgical landmark is useful where middle ear anatomy is obscured by disease or when a total facial nerve decompression procedure is planned.