Blood Flow of the Vein of the Cochlear Aqueduct

Abstract

The vein of the cochlear aqueduct (VCAQ) drains labyrinthine blood into jugular vein or dural sinuses. VCAQ receives some venous branches from mucoperiosteum vessels of the middle ear. Effects of acute obstruction of VCAQ on the endocochlear potential (EP) were observed in 14 ears of guinea pigs. Upon acute obstruction of VCAQ, EP did not change in 10 ears. In 4 ears, reversible or irreversible decreases which ranged from 8 to 27 mV were observed. From these experiments, the presence of collateral venous circulation was suggested.