LXXIII The Human Ossicular Ligaments

Three-dimensional regular arrangement of the annular ligament of the rat stapediovestibular joint

“…The ligament fibers are inserted into cartilaginous matrices of the vestibular window, as well as the stapes footplate, thus anchoring the SVJ (Brunner, 1954;Wolff and Bellucci, 1956;Bolz and Lim, 1972; De Souza et al, 1991; Okumura and Iwai-Liao, 1993). However, there have been no reports that show cross-sectioned images of the annular ligament at the ultrastructural level.…”

“…The major etiopathogenetic causes of otosclerosis are considered to be genetic factors, collagen defects, collagen autoimmunity and viral infection (Chole and McKenna, 2001). So far, numerous histopathological studies on the SVJ have been performed (Davies, 1948;Harty, 1953;Brunner, 1954;Wolff and Bellucci, 1956;Gussen, 1968Gussen, , 1969Bolz and Lim, 1972;De Souza et al, 1991;Okumura and Iwai-Liao, 1993;Merchant et al, 2001;Whyte et al, 2002). In the normal SVJ, both the vestibular surface and the rim of the stapedial base are covered with hyaline cartilage.…”

Observations on a notch in the short (superior or posterior) process of the incus

“…ever, it seems most likely th a t the same posterior ligament attaching the apex of the short process of the incus is the cause of the notch form ation. Wolff and Bellucci [1956] observed cases where the notch was so deep as to totally divide the short process. Thus, the apex appeared as a separate accessory ossicle.…”

Elastic Properties of the Annular Ligament of the Human Stapes—AFM Measurement

“…This attachment is known as the stapedio-vestibular joint (SVJ). The SVJ enables the stapes to vibrate (Wolff andBellucci 1956, Whyte et al 2002). The movement of the SF causes pressure changes within the fluid, consequently stimulating the cochlea's sensory hair cells.…”