THE PETROUS APEX

Deep within the middle and inner ears, the petrous apex stretches towa rd the central skull base. Viewed from below or from within the skull, the petrous portion of the temporal bone gives the appearance of a st urdy mass of solid bone. In many cases, this is an accurate descriptio n of the petrous apex. Frequently, however, the petrous bone is partly hollowed out as air cells invade from the middle ear. These petrous a ir cells are responsible for much of the pathology that occurs in the petrous apex.