Fallopian canal – Clinical anatomy

  • It is a bony canal in the temporal bone through which the facial nerve passes
  • Starts at internal acoustic meatus
  • Ends at stylomastoid foramen
  • It is the longest bony canal for a nerve in our body
  • Clinical importance:
    • As the presence of a rigid bony canal does not provide for any space for expansion, inflammatory swelling of facial nerve can cause ischemia of nerve
    • When the bony canal is dehiscent, infections of the middle ear can affect the facial nerve

Synonyms / Alternate names:

  • Aqueduct of Falloppio
  • Canalis nervi facialis
  • Facial canal
  • Aqueductus fallopii
  • Fallopian aqueduct