Facial canal
The facial canal is a Z-shaped canal in the temporal bone of the skull. It extends between the internal acoustic meatus and stylomastoid foramen. It transmits the facial nerve .
Anatomy
The facial canal gives passage to the facial nerve . Its proximal opening is at the internal auditory meatus; its distal opening is the stylomastoid foramen. In humans, the canal is approximately 3 cm long, making it the longest bony canal of a nerve in the human body. It is located within the middle ear region.The facial nerve gives rise to three nerves while passing through the canal: the greater petrosal nerve, nerve to stapedius, and the chorda tympani.
Structure
Horizontal part
The proximal portion of the facial canal is termed the horizontal part. It commences at the introitus of facial canal at the distal end of the internal auditory meatus. The horizontal part is further subdivided into two crura: the proximal/medial anterolaterally directed medial crus, and the distal/lateral posterolaterally directed lateral crus ; the two crura meet at a sharp angle at the genu of facial canal where the geniculate ganglion is situated.Descending part
The lateral crus of horizontal part ends by turning sharply inferior-ward, commencing the distal-most descending part of facial canal which passes vertically inferior-ward, ending distally at the stylomastoid foramen. The descending part presents two openings through each of which a branch of the facial nerve passes: the nerve to stapedius enters the canaliculus for nerve to stapedius, and the chorda tympani enters the posterior canaliculus of chorda tympani.Relations
The labyrinthine segment is situated superior to cochlea.The canal traverses the medial wall of the tympanic cavity superior to the oval window; here, the prominence of the facial canal upon the medial wall indicates the position of the superior portion of the facial canal. The canal then curves nearly vertically inferior-ward along the posterior wall. The tympanic segment is closely related to the posterior and medial walls of the tympanic cavity; it passes superior to the oval window and inferior to the lateral semicircular canal.