Morphometric and macroanatomic examination of auditory ossicles in male wolves (Canis lupus)

Background: The aim of the study was to determine morphometric and macro-anatomic features of auditory ossicles and the tympanic bulla in wolf. Materials and methods: For this purpose, 7 skulls of adult male wolf were used in the study. Auditory ossicles was photographed on a dissection microscope after it was removed from the skull. A total of 14 morphometric measurements were taken among the different points of malleus, incus and stapes in Image J programme. Mean values of the measurements were obtained and statistically compared in terms of sides (right-left). Results: In male wolves, the lengths of the right and left malleus were determined as mean 9.35 +/- 0.14 and 9.57 +/- 0.25 mm, the lengths of the incus as mean 3.01 +/- 0.32 and 2.94 +/- 0.16 mm, and the lengths of the stapes as mean 2.57 +/- 0.12 and 2.59 +/- 0.14 mm, respectively. The differences were not statistically significant when all the morphometric parameters were compared in terms of sides (p > 0.05). Conclusions: It is considered that this study will contribute to the anatomical studies to be conducted in the Canidae family regarding auditory ossicles.