pars flaccida

Tympanic

membrane • Auditory anatomy - Gray's anatomy illustration - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Illustrations, G. Auditory anatomy - Gray's anatomy illustration. Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 24 Oct 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-10520 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Acquired

cholesteatoma • Cholesteatoma formation (illustrations) - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Gaillard F, Cholesteatoma formation (illustrations). Case study, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 28 Nov 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-9672 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Radiopaedia • CC-by-nc-sa 3.0 • de

The pars flaccida (plural: partes flaccidae), also known as Shrapnell's membrane, is the flaccid portion of the tympanic membrane and represents a small portion of the membrane. It lies superior to the anterior and posterior malleolar folds. When compared to pars tensa, the middle fibrous layer is poorly developed in pars flaccida, contributing to its flaccid nature.

It extends upwards from the anterior and posterior malleolar folds at the level of the lateral process of malleus. Hence, it sits between the scutum and malleus.