Petrous part of the temporal bone

The posterior surface of the petrosal portion of the temporal bone is the back side of the Petrous part of the temporal bone, which is a complex and compact bone located in the skull. The petrous portion of the temporal bone is involved in the formation of the base of the skull and is adjacent to the middle and inner ear structures. The posterior surface of the petrosal portion of the temporal bone is relatively flat and forms part of the posterior cranial fossa. It is separated from the occipital bone by the sigmoid sulcus and is in close proximity to the sigmoid sinus and internal auditory canal, which contain important structures such as the facial nerve and cochlea. Knowledge of the anatomy of the posterior surface of the petrosal portion of the temporal bone is important for a range of clinical applications, including skull base surgery and middle ear surgery.

see Petrous bone