| facial canal | The bony passage in the temporal bone through which the facial nerve passes; the facial canal commences at the internal auditory meatus with the horizontal part which passes at first anteriorly (medial crus of facial canal) then turns posteriorly at the geniculum of the facial canal to pass medial to the tympanic cavity (lateral crus of facial canal); finally, it turns downward (descending part of facial canal) to reach the stylomastoid foramen. Synonym: canalis nervi facialis, aqueductus fallopii, fallopian aqueduct, fallopian canal. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| geniculum of facial canal | The bend in the facial canal linking the medial and lateral crura of the horizontal port of the canal and corresponding to the location of the geniculate ganglion of the facial nerve. Synonym: geniculum canalis facialis. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| genu of facial canal | A sharp bend in the facial canal where the geniculate ganglion is located. (05 Mar 2000) |
| medial crus of facial canal | Medially-placed, anteriorly-directed first portion of the horizontal part of the facial canal. See: horizontal part of facial canal. Synonym: medial crus of the horizontal part of the facial canal. (05 Mar 2000) |
| medial crus of the horizontal part of the facial canal | Medially-placed, anteriorly-directed first portion of the horizontal part of the facial canal. See: horizontal part of facial canal. Synonym: medial crus of the horizontal part of the facial canal. (05 Mar 2000) |
| prominence of facial canal | The prominence on the medial wall of the tympanic cavity above the vestibular (oval) window produced by the presence of the facial canal. Synonym: prominentia canalis facialis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| hiatus of facial canal | The opening on the anterior aspect of the petrous part of the temporal bone which leads to the facial canal and gives passage to the greater petrosal nerve. Synonym: hiatus canalis nervi petrosi majoris, fallopian hiatus, Ferrein's foramen, hiatus canalis facialis, hiatus of canal for greater petrosal nerve. (05 Mar 2000) |
| horizontal part of facial canal | First portion of facial canal, between beginning of canal (at the introitus of the facial canal at the end of the internal auditory meatus) and the point at which it turns to descend, beginning the descending part. There are two components (crura) of the horizontal part: the medially-located, anteriorly-directed medial crus and the laterally-placed, posteriorly-directed lateral crus, the two being continuous at a sharp bend, the genu of the facial canal. This lateral part is where the genicular ganglion is located and which communicates with the middle cranial fossa via the hiatus of the facial canal, through which the greater superficial petrosal nerve passes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| descending part of facial canal | Second portion of the facial canal, after the horizontal parts, beginning at the posterior end of the lateral crus where the canal begins to descend. It runs vertically downward, ending at the stylomastoid foramen. Anteriorly, the descending part of the facial canal communicates with the tympanic cavity via the canaliculus for the nerve to the stapedius muscle and the posterior canaliculus of the chorda tympani. (05 Mar 2000) |
| introitus of facial canal | Entrance to facial canal, through which the facial nerve passes, at end of internal acoustic meatus. Synonym: introitus canalis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lateral crus of facial canal | Laterally-placed, posteriorly-directed second portion of the horizontal part of the facial canal. See: horizontal part of facial canal. Synonym: lateral crus of horizontal part of the facial canal. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lateral crus of horizontal part of the facial canal | Laterally-placed, posteriorly-directed second portion of the horizontal part of the facial canal. See: horizontal part of facial canal. Synonym: lateral crus of horizontal part of the facial canal. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior facial vein | <anatomy, vein> A continuation of the angular vein at the medial angle of the eye. It passes diagonally downward and outward, joining with the retromandibular vein below the border of the lower jaw before emptying into the internal jugular vein. Synonym: anterior facial vein, vena facialis anterior, vena facialis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| area of facial nerve | <anatomy, nerve> The area in the fundus of the internal acoustic meatus superior to the transverse crest through which the facial nerve passes to enter the facial canal. Synonym: area nervi facialis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| atypical facial neuralgia | Periodic pain in any region of the face, teeth, tongue, and occasionally in the occipital or shoulder area, which lasts several minutes to several days but has no trigger point and lacks the paroxysmal character of tic douloureux. Synonym: atypical facial neuralgia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Broca's facial angle | The angle formed by the intersection at the biauricular axis of lines drawn from the supraorbital point and the alveolar point. Synonym: Broca's angles. (05 Mar 2000) |