Anatomy of the auditory tube and related structures in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta)

The primate nasopharynx-auditory tube-middle ear complex is being used by several researchers to model both normal and pathologic functions of the human auditory tube. An extensive search of the literature has indicated little detailed information on the primate tube/middle ear system. This study was undertaken to define the anatomical characteristic of the system in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) and to determine the limits on the use of the monkey as a model of human tubal function. Although the direct application of morphologic data to account for the observed function of a system is a tenous one, the data on the rhesus monkey auditory tube appear to be consistent with those published for other mammals. The tensor veli palatini muscle appears to be the only muscle to act directly on the tube and effect tubal dilation. The muscle is attached to the lateral membranous tubal wall along its extrabullar extension. The muscle has an inferior attachment to the posterior hard palate and thus possesses a vector directed inferolaterally; contraction would appear to pull the membranous wall inferiorly and laterally, resulting in tubal dilation. The auditory tube relationships of the salpingopharyngeus, levator veli palatini, and internal pterygoid muscles are described. Their possible role in primate tubal function is minimal at best.