tympanic cavity

cavity /cav·i·ty/ (kav´ĭ-te)

1. a hollow place or space, or a potential space, within the body or one of its organs.

2. in dentistry, the lesion produced by caries.

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abdominal cavity  the cavity of the body between the diaphragm and pelvis, containing the abdominal organs.

absorption cavities  cavities in developing compact bone due to osteoclastic erosion, usually occurring in the areas laid down first.

amniotic cavity  the closed sac between the embryo and the amnion, containing the amniotic fluid.

cleavage cavity  blastocoele.

complex cavity  a carious lesion involving three or more surfaces of a tooth in its prepared state.

compound cavity  a carious lesion involving two surfaces of a tooth in its prepared state.

cotyloid cavity  acetabulum.

cranial cavity  the space enclosed by the bones of the cranium.

dental cavity  the carious defect (lesion) produced by destruction of enamel and dentin in a tooth.

glenoid cavity  a depression in the lateral angle of the scapula for articulation with the humerus.

marrow cavity , medullary cavity the cavity in the diaphysis of a long bone containing the marrow.

nasal cavity  the proximal part of the respiratory tract, separated by the nasal septum and extending from the nares to the pharynx.

oral cavity  the cavity of the mouth, bounded by the jaw bones and associated structures (muscles and mucosa).

pelvic cavity  the space within the walls of the pelvis.

pericardial cavity  the potential space between the epicardium and the parietal layer of the serous pericardium.

peritoneal cavity  the potential space between the parietal and the visceral peritoneum.

pleural cavity  the potential space between the parietal and visceral pleurae.

pleuroperitoneal cavity  the temporarily continuous coelomic cavity in the embryo that is later partitioned by the developing diaphragm.

prepared cavity  a lesion from which all carious tissue has been removed, preparatory to filling of the tooth.

pulp cavity  the pulp-filled central chamber in the crown of a tooth.

Rosenmüller's cavity  pharyngeal recess.

serous cavity  a coelomic cavity, like that enclosed by the pericardium, peritoneum, or pleura, not communicating with the outside body, and whose lining membrane secretes a serous fluid.

sigmoid cavity 

1. either of two depressions in the head of the ulna for articulation with the humerus.

2. a depression on the distal end of the medial side of the radius for articulation with the ulna.

simple cavity  a carious lesion whose preparation involves only one tooth surface.

somatic cavity  the intraembryonic portion of the coelom.

tension cavities  cavities of the lung in which the air pressure is greater than that of the atmosphere.

thoracic cavity  the part of the ventral body cavity between the neck and the diaphragm.

tympanic cavity  the major portion of the middle ear, consisting of a narrow air-filled cavity in the temporal bone that contains the auditory ossicles.

uterine cavity  the flattened space within the uterus communicating proximally on either side with the uterine tubes and below with the vagina.

yolk cavity  the space between the embryonic disk and the yolk of the developing ovum of some animals.

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tympanic cavity

n.

See middle ear.

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tympanic cavity.

See middle ear.

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cavity

1. a hollow or space, or a potentional space, within the body (e.g. abdominal cavity) or one of its organs (e.g. cranial cavity).

2. in teeth, the lesion produced by dental caries.

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absorption c's

cavities in developing compact bone due to osteoclastic erosion, usually occurring in the areas laid down first.

amniotic cavity

the closed sac between the embryo and the amnion, containing the amniotic fluid.

cranial cavity

the space enclosed by the bones of the cranium.

dental cavity

1. the central space, often branched or multiple in compound teeth, of each tooth; carries the nerve and blood supplies to the teeth.

2. the defect caused by decay on a tooth surface. Called also caries.

glenoid cavity

a depression in the ventral angle of the scapula for articulation with the humerus.

infraglottic cavity

the space in the larynx caudal to the vocal folds; reflects the shape of the cricoid cartilage.

medullary (marrow) cavity

the cavity, containing marrow, in the diaphysis of a long bone; called also medullary canal.

nasal cavity

the proximal part of the respiratory tract, within the nose, bisected by the nasal septum and extending from the nares to the pharynx. Much of the cavity is occupied by the turbinate bones or conchae which also divide it into dorsal, medial and ventral meatuses. The common meatus is the narrow, vertical passage close to the nasal septum. The rostral end of the cavity just inside the nostril is the nasal vestibule, and the caudal part opening into the pharynx is the nasopharyngeal meatus.

oral cavity

the cavity of the mouth, made up of a vestibule and oral cavity proper.

pelvic cavity

the space within the walls of the pelvis.

pericardial cavity

the potential space between the epicardium and the parietal layer of the serous pericardium.

peritoneal cavity

the potential space between the parietal and the visceral peritoneum.

pleural cavity

the potential space between the parietal and the visceral pleura.

pulp cavity

the pulp-filled central chamber in a tooth; called also dental cavity.

serous cavity

a celomic cavity, like that enclosed by the pericardium, peritoneum or pleura, not communicating with the outside of the body and lined with a serous membrane, i.e. one which secretes a serous fluid.

tension cavity

cavities of the lung in which the air pressure is greater than that of the atmosphere.

thoracic cavity

the body cavity situated between the neck and the diaphragm.

tympanic cavity

the cavity of the middle ear.

uterine cavity

the space within the uterus communicating on either side with the uterine tubes and caudally with the vagina.

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tympanic

1. of or pertaining to the tympanum.

2. bell-like; resonant.

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tympanic cavity

middle ear.

tympanic membrane

a thin, semitransparent membrane, nearly oval in shape, that stretches across the ear canal separating the middle ear from the external acoustic meatus (outer ear); called also the eardrum. It is composed of fibrous tissue, covered with skin on the outside and mucous membrane on the inside. It is constructed so that it can vibrate freely with audible sound waves that travel inward from outside. The manubrium (handle) of the malleus (hammer) of the middle ear is attached to the center of the tympanic membrane and receives the vibrations collected by the membrane, transmitting them to other bones of the middle ear (the incus and stapes) and eventually to the fluid of the inner ear.

Normal canine left tympanic membrane. By permission from Gotthelf LN, Small Animal Ear Disease, Saunders, 2005

tympanic membrane (secondary)

the membrane enclosing the fenestra cochlearis; called also Scarpa's membrane.

tympanic nerve

see Table 14.

tympanic plexus

see tympanic plexus.

tympanic ossicles

see auditory ossicles.