| tensor tympani | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, the cartilaginous part of the auditory (eustachian) tube and the walls of its hemi-canal just above the bony portion of the auditory tube; insertion, handle of malleus; action, draws the handle of the malleus medialward tensing the tympanic membrane to protect it from excessive vibration by loud sounds. Nerve supply, branches of trigeminal through the otic ganglion. Synonym: musculus tensor tympani, tensor muscle of tympanic membrane, Toynbee's muscle. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| tunica mucosa cavitatis tympani | The mucous layer of the tympanic cavity and the structures in it. Synonym: tunica mucosa cavitatis tympani, mucous membrane of tympanic cavity. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tympanic opening of canaliculi for chorda tympani | The small canal opening found lateral to the pyramidal eminence in the posterior wall of the middle ear cavity from which the chorda tympani nerve emerges to pass anteriorly between the ossicles accompanied by a branch of the stylomastoid artery. Synonym: apertura tympanica canaliculi chordae tympani. (05 Mar 2000) |
| umbo membranae tympani | The projection on the inner surface of the tympanic membrane at the end of the manubrium of the malleus; this corresponds to the most depressed point of the membrane, viewed laterally, that is commonly called the umbo. Synonym: umbo membranae tympani, umbo. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fold of chorda tympani | The fold of mucosa that surrounds the chorda tympani nerve in its course through the tympanic cavity. Synonym: plica chordae tympani. (05 Mar 2000) |
| laxator tympani | One of two supposed muscles, probably ligaments of the malleus. Origin: Mod. L. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fundus tympani | The floor of the tympanic cavity; a thin plate of bone separating the tympanic cavity from the jugular fossa. Synonym: paries jugularis cavi tympani, fundus tympani, inferior wall of tympanic cavity, jugular wall of middle ear. (05 Mar 2000) |
| limbus membranae tympani | Margin of the tympanic membrane attaching to the tympanic sulcus. Synonym: limbus membranae tympani. (05 Mar 2000) |