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Horizontal Ear Canal

Fortunately, the skin of the horizontal canal is often spared the devastating effects of inflammation associated with otitis externa. The thin epidermis lining the horizontal canal firmly attaches to the underlying auricular cartilage in the lateral aspect of the horizontal canal (cartilaginous portion) and is approximately 0.2 mm thick.

The ventral portion of the horizontal canal has an extension of the pertrous temporal bone underlying the thin epidermis (bony portion). The thin epithelium of the bony hori­zontal canal is continuous with the epithelium on the lateral aspect of the tympanic membrane, which is one or two cells thick. Epidermal rete ridges, skin adnexal struc­tures, and a subcutaneous layer are absent in the skin of the horizontal canal. Because the skin is adherent to the underlying cartilage and to the periosteum of the bony portion of the horizontal canal, pathologic changes of the horizontal canal are usually limited to hyperplasia. The exception to this anatomic feature is the American Cocker Spaniel. This breed supports much more glandular tissue in the horizontal canal than other breeds. This has been verified by an analysis of histopathologic specimens from the horizontal canal of several breeds.

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Source: Gotthelf Louis N.. Small Animal Ear Diseases: An Illustrated Guide. 2nd ed. — Saunders,2004. — 384 p.. 2004
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