Morphological and morphometrical study of the auditory ossicles in chinchilla (original) (raw)

This study is meant to illustrate and describe the features of the auditory ossicles of the chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera), one of the species used more and more frequently in otology and ear surgery as animal model. Cephalic extremities of 12 C. lanigera individuals obtained from a private farm, where this species was bred for fur, were used in this study. The ossicles were obtained either by direct surgical harvesting by mastoid approach or after a dermestid beetle exposure followed by anatomical dissection. The three ossicles that form the assembly are the malleus, incus and stapes. After the removal of these ossicles, a series of anatomical descriptions were made, followed by seriate sets of measurements. The malleus and incus form a joined‐single unit called the maleo‐incal complex, with an elongated straight appearance, also due to the development of the anterior process. The handle of the malleus and the long process of incus are almost perpendicular to the main axis of the...