Temporal Bone's Suprameatal Spine, Lateral View

Description

Henle’s suprameatal spine (spina suprameatica) projects as a small, sharp bony point on the posterosuperior margin of the external acoustic meatus in a lateral view of the temporal bone. The spine sits at the junction of the squamous and tympanic parts, just superior to the tympanic plate that forms the anterior and inferior walls of the osseous meatus. Posterior and inferior to this landmark, the mastoid region expands into the mastoid process, while anteriorly the root of the zygomatic process extends toward the zygomatic bone. The external acoustic meatus provides the dominant opening, with the suprameatal spine marking its upper posterior rim. Otologic surgeons and anatomists still reference the suprameatal spine because it helps triangulate surface anatomy over the mastoid air cell system and the mastoid antrum, where safe cortical entry matters during mastoidectomy. Tiny landmark, real consequences. In temporal bone teaching, a lateral perspective like this keeps the relationship between the bony external auditory canal, the suprameatal area, and the mastoid cortex unambiguous, so you can explain why the suprameatal region is palpated and inspected when planning postauricular approaches and when correlating external landmarks with underlying pneumatization. Use this illustration in head and neck anatomy courses to teach the parts of the temporal bone and the boundaries of the external acoustic meatus, or in ENT and otologic surgery materials discussing cortical mastoidectomy landmarks, postauricular incision planning, and avoidance of misplaced drilling near the canal wall. It also fits radiology and anatomy atlases as a labeled reference for correlating lateral skull landmarks with CT evaluation of mastoid air cells and the external auditory canal. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.