The most common cause of recurrent meningitis is a skull fracture, particularly fractures that affect the base of the skull or extend towards the sinuses and petrous pyramids.
The orifice of the aquductus vestibuli is the hind part of the medial wall; it extends to the posterior surface of the petrous portion of the temporal bone.
Before exiting the jugular foramen, the tympanic nerve enters the petrous portion of the temporal bone and ascends via the inferior tympanic canaliculus to the tympanic cavity.
Anteriorly it extends to the apex of the petrous temporal.
The petrous portion is among the most basal elements of the skull and forms part of the endocranium.
Its superior and inferior (petrous) ganglia contain the cell bodies of pain fibers.
Similar symptoms can also occur secondary to petrous fractures or to nasopharyngeal tumours. 4.
The lateral approach is then used to reach the medial cavernous sinus and petrous apex.
