Segmental anatomy of the temporal bone.

More of us suffer from hearing loss than from visual impairment, coronary artery disease, and cancer combined. Auditory dysfunction is detected in less than one third of newborns afflicted and is underdiagnosed in the elderly. Despite biomedical and technological advances, our understanding of vestibular dysfunction has grown little. Forming part of the lateral and inferior surfaces of the skull, the temporal bone contains the organs of hearing and balance. Diagnosis of diseases in these important regions requires adequate clinical information and a thorough knowledge of normal temporal bone anatomy to recognize abnormal findings when present. This article dissects the temporal bone into segments, describes the relevant radiologic anatomy of each, and discusses the imaging appropriate to specific concerns.