Mastoid canals in adult human skulls

Mastoid canals (tunnels) were observed in 41 (7.7%) of 265 dry human skulls. The canals were 2-27 mm long. This feature has not been reported before. dissection of 30 mastoid regions in cadavers showed that the canals contained a branch of the occipital artery and a vein. It is possible that during development of the mastoid process the squamous temporal bone ossifies over the vessels, giving rise to the canals.