A New Method of Cadaver Dissection in the Temporal Bone

Aim Illustration of an easy method of entering into the middle ear and proceed further to the brain in a cadaver.

Methods Learning the live anatomy is essential for any surgery before it is undertaken by a surgeon. It can be undertaken in human cadaver or sheep cadaver. We dissected out the temporal mandibular joint as a first-step study. The external auditory canal, the whole length and breadth can be studied easily after removal of the thin bone between external auditory canal and temporal mandibular joint.

Second step:	The layers of the tympanic membrane can be dissected and seen.
Third step:	Content of the middle ear studied after elevating the tympanic membrane.
Fourth step:	Cochlear dissection and internal auditory canal dissection.
Fifth step:	Skull-based dissection.

Clinical significance Same steps can be followed in operative procedure also, provided keeping in mind the facial nerve anatomy.

Result In cadaver dissection, this is the easiest procedure other than the conventional post auricular dissection which needs drilling of the mastoid.