Before talking about the pathologies of the temporal bone, it is necessary to clarify that the temporal bone is paired and makes up the base and side wall of the skull, prevailing between the sphenoid bone in front and the back of the neck. It contains the organs of hearing and balance, from which one can judge its direct purpose and indispensability in the human body. The stony, drum, and scaly parts act as its constituents; we describe each in more detail.
The stony part has a trihedral shape, hence the second name “pyramid” got its name. The top of the pyramid is directed medially and forward, in addition, it has an internal opening of the carotid canal, and its base is directed back and laterally, where the muscular-tubal canal is located, divided by a septum into two half-channels that activate the eardrum.
The scaly part forms the side walls of the skull and is represented by a vertically standing plate with a rounded edge overhanging the characteristic edge of the parietal bone in the form of fish scales, therefore the name is appropriate.
The drum part forms a part of the posterior, as well as the anterior and lower edges of the external auditory meatus, is characterized by endesmal ossification and has the appearance of a similar rounded plate.
The temporal bone is an important element in the construction of the skull, the pathologies of which lead to extremely undesirable consequences. In particular, temporal arteritis may worsen. This is an inflammatory disease that affects bulky blood vessels. Most often this happens with vessels touching the carotid arteries, in particular, the cranial arteries, the aorta and the large processes of the coronary arteries and limb arteries branching from it. Veins with this pathology are very rarely affected. Such a pathology can provoke a sharp loss of vision, in addition, a prolonged course of the disease can lead to necrosis of the optic nerve and retina.
With this pathological process, the temporal bone requires timely diagnosis, which is carried out against the background of the patient's characteristic complaints. So, a potential patient suffers from severe headaches, visual disturbances, soreness of the temporal arteries, neck pain and a significant deterioration of the usual condition. Do not delay the treatment, as the temporal bone is directly related to vision, and temporal arteritis can lead to irreversible blindness. A number of medications are recommended here, the action of which is aimed at suppressing the inflammatory process in the arteries. It is important to understand that in each clinical case, productive treatment has its own characteristic specifics, so some feel significant improvements at an early stage of intensive care, while others need a long course of rehabilitation therapy.
However, this is not the only disease that is related to the temporal bone. Temporal tendonitis may also progress. Such a disease is characterized by such a severe pain in the cheek area that sometimes it may seem that the teeth hurt. Such pain most often increases with chewing, however, the course of this pathology is purely individual in nature.
The specialist’s task is to prescribe an alternative treatment, in which blood circulation and metabolism are normalized, the conditions for the deposition of calcium salts disappear, and the pain subsides. In addition, there is an urgent need for restoration of connective tissue.
Hence, we can discuss the role of the temporal bone in the structure of the skull, which has its significant significance and performs very important functions.