Facial canal

The facial canal (Canalis facialis) for the facial nerve begins by the broad dorsorostral orifice located inside the internal acoustic meatus, on the endocranial surface of the petrous part of the temporal bone. It goes outwards and after a short horizontal path, bends suddenly rearward: this inflexion constitutes its geniculum (Geniculum canalis facialis). It then describes a curve with rostral concavity that passes behind the tympanic cavity and ends by a descending part, that opens outside by the stylomastoid foramen (Formaen stylomastoideum) located at the limit of the tympanic and petrous parts, between the mastoid process and the tympanic bulla.