KUMJ | VOL. 24 | NO. 1 | ISSUE 94 | JANUARY - MARCH, 2026

Intratemporal Anatomical Study of Facial Nerve in Cadaveric Bone in Nepal
Dongol K, Acharya U, Rayamajhi P, Pradhananga RB, Gurung U, Thapa NM

Abstract:
Background The facial nerve courses in the intracranial, intratemporal and extratemporal regions. Intratemporal part of facial nerve is divided into meatal, labyrinthine, tympanic and mastoid segments. Objective The objective of this study was to measure the length of tympanic segment of facial nerve, mastoid segment of facial nerve and distance between the second genu of facial nerve and origin of chorda tympani nerve. Method It was a descriptive study conducted from April 2025 till July 2025. A total of 65 temporal bones were dissected and the lengths of different segments of facial nerve were measured with a thread and millimetric scale. Result The mean length of tympanic segment of facial nerve was 7.86 ± 1.37 mm, which ranged from 5 mm to 11 mm. The length of mastoid segment of facial nerve ranged from 11 mm to 30 mm and its mean length was 16.84 ± 3.50 mm. The mean distance between the second genu of facial nerve to point of origin of chorda tympani nerve was found to be 12.87 ± 3.89 mm. This distance ranged from 2 mm to 24 mm. Conclusion There was a variability on anatomical measurements of different segments of facial nerve in the tympanomastoid compartment. This needs to be considered while performing middle ear and mastoid surgeries.
Keyword : Anatomy, Cadaver, Chorda tympani nerve, Facial nerve, Temporal bone