Evaluation of the middle ear in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) by gross anatomy and cone-beam computed tomography

Abstract

Background:The purpose of this study was to provide a description of gross middle ear morphology in water buffaloes, augmented with additional data on the osseous structures of middle ear derived from cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and methods: Skulls of 10 young adult male water buffaloes were used to examine their middle ears. Results: Anatomical features noted included the presence of tympanic cells in the tympanic bulla, the location of malleus head and neck, and all of incus in the dorsal epitympanic recess, the oval tympanic membrane, absence of a prominent notch on the articular surface of malleus, positional variations of the lateral process of malleus relative to the muscular process and muscular process relative to the rostral process of malleus, absence of complete coverage of the articular facet of malleus head by incus body, and presence of the lenticular process of incus. In CBCT images, the osseous part of external acoustic meatus, the petrous part of temporal bone and the details of the ossicles were seen, except for stapes. Conclusions: Although tympanic membrane, malleus and stapes of water buffaloes are similar to those of ox, the incus of water buffaloes is more similar to that of goats. The heaviest ossicles among the ruminants studied belonged to water buffaloes; the mean length of malleus head and neck, total length and width of incus body as well as length of stapes head were greatest in water buffaloes too. The auditory ossicles of water buffaloes show 'transitional type' morphological characteristics. These features suggest a relatively wide frequency range of hearing, but not one biased towards especially low or especially high frequencies.

Morphological And Morphometrical Aspects of The Auditory Ossicles In Roe Deer (Capreolus Capreolus)

“…The morphological aspects in case of the malleus in Capreollus capreollus are similar to those described in buffalo (Nourinezhad et al 2021), donkeys (Nazih 2017), mice (Mohammadpour 2010) and even humans (Pracy et al 1998). The oval aspect of the head of malleus was reported also in sheep ( The middle ear, in its morphology, can be regarded as a pressure ampli er.…”

“…The footplate of the stapes varies much as far as its shape is concerned from species to species. For the roe-deer, we have observed an elliptic shape, somehow similar to the bactrian camel(Bai et al 2009;Nourinezhad et al 2021), goat(Martonos et al 2021), and chinchilla(Martonos et al 2019). In sheep, this segment is described as almost squared(Nourinezhad et al 2021).…”

“…The three processes are noticeable in donkey(Nazih 2017;Gürbüz et al 2019), rabbit(Kurtul et al 2003), pig, and humans(Pracy et al 1998). For the roe deer specimens a worth-mentioning aspect refers to the muscular process, which is evident and conicallyshaped (somehow similar to the situation described in buffalo(Nourinezhad et al 2021)) while in donkey a reduced degree of development of this process is noted(Gürbüz et al 2019). The triangular shape of the handle of malleus appears different from the situation found in other ruminants-buffalo, cow and sheep(Nourinezhad et al 2021).…”

“…For the roe deer specimens a worth-mentioning aspect refers to the muscular process, which is evident and conicallyshaped (somehow similar to the situation described in buffalo(Nourinezhad et al 2021)) while in donkey a reduced degree of development of this process is noted(Gürbüz et al 2019). The triangular shape of the handle of malleus appears different from the situation found in other ruminants-buffalo, cow and sheep(Nourinezhad et al 2021). The incus follows mostly the classical features of the bi radicular molar, with a shorter appearance at the level of the body of the incus.…”

“…Simaei et al 2017) and swine(Pracy et al 1998) while in cavimorphs, moles and bovids(Argyle and Mason 2008;Simaei et al 2017) these features are slightly different. The neck of the malleus shows the existence of three visible processes, opposite to the situation found in bovids and buffalo, where this segment is di cult to pinpoint(Nourinezhad et al 2021). The three processes are noticeable in donkey(Nazih 2017;Gürbüz et al 2019), rabbit(Kurtul et al 2003), pig, and humans(Pracy et al 1998).…”