Mastoid cells

The mastoid cells are air-filled cavities within the mastoid process of the temporal bone of the cranium. The mastoid cells are a form of skeletal pneumaticity. Infection in these cells is called mastoiditis.
The term cells here refers to enclosed spaces, not cells as living, biological units.

Anatomy

The mastoid air cells vary greatly in number, shape, and size; they may be extensive or minimal or even absent.
The cells are typically interconnected and their walls lined by mucosa that is continuous with that of the mastoid antrum and tympanic cavity.

Extent

They may excavate the mastoid process to its tip, and be separated from the posterior cranial fossa and sigmoid sinus by a mere slip of bone or not at all. They may extend into the squamous part of temporal bone, petrous part of the temporal bone zygomatic process of temporal bone, and - rarely - the jugular process of occipital bone; they may thus come to adjoin many important structures to which they may disseminate infection in case of infective mastoiditis.

Innervation

The cells receive from the posterior branch of the meningeal branch of the mandibular nerve (nervus spinosus), and branches of the tympanic plexus.''''''

Vasculature

The cells receive arterial supply from the stylomastoid branch of the occipital artery or posterior auricular artery, and a mastoid branch of the occipital artery.
The superior petrosal sinus receives venous drainage from the mastoid air cells.

Development

At birth, the mastoid is not pneumatized, but becomes aerated before age six. At birth, the mastoid antrum is well developed but the air cells are represented only by small diverticula from the antrum. The air cells then gradually extend into the bone of the mastoid during the first years of life. Their most significant enlargements takes place during puberty.

Function

The air cells are hypothesised to protect the temporal bone and the inner and middle ear against trauma and to regulate air pressure.

Clinical significance

Infections in the middle ear easily spread into the mastoid air cells through the aditus ad antrum, resulting in mastoiditis, a potentially dangerous and life-threatening condition. Infection may then further spread into the middle cranial fossa or posterior cranial fossa, causing meningitis or abscess of adjacent brain tissue. Infection may also spread to muscles of the neck, causing pain and torticollis.