Micro-endoscopic ear anatomy of guinea pig applied to experimental surgery

PURPOSE: To describe topographic and endoscopic anatomy of guinea pig ear for development of surgical approaches in experimental studies. METHODS: Experimental study. Eight adult guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) were used in this study. Four animals were described through endoscopic view and four animals were used to describe topographic anatomy. RESULTS: The main structures of middle ear were well identified through endoscopy view: oval and round window, ossicles and vascular structures. Temporal bone position, landmarks and its relations to skull are perceived with topographic description. CONCLUSION: Topographic anatomic description allowed exposition of temporal bone relations for external surgical approaches. Alternatively, grooves and middle ear structures were identified and may be used to transcanal accesses