Pneumatized Head Bones. Unitary Approach

Abstract

Introduction: Many bones that make up the skeleton of the human head and many species of animals are pneumatized. Multiple hypotheses with various approaches have been stated with the intention of explaining the existence of these airspaces. Of all the bones with these characteristics in humans, only the paranasal sinuses and pneumatization of the temporal bone have been the subject of multiple hypotheses. The diversity of criteria denotes disagreement, if not with all, with the majority of them. Material and methods: This theory is based on personal reflections supported by x-rays and anatomical images of the frontal and temporal bones, with the aim of illustrating and reinforcing the reasons for the existence of these cavities in all species that possess them. Results, discussion and conclusions: These air spaces are formed in the body of short bones as a natural defense mechanism by replacing the spongy tissue to prevent serious infections of the same (osteomyelitis), which given its close proximity to the brain and its structures would represent a danger to life from its emergence. We consider that the ethmoid labyrinths were created with the aim of filling the empty space between the neighboring bones to give stability to the surrounding bone skeleton. The pneumatization of the temporal bone, compact bone, was created to “house and protect” important structures of the senses of hearing and balance, vessels and nerves.