Figure 5.

Example of point fixation of an otosclerotic lesion within the otic capsule to the uninvolved footplate A) Low power image through the otic capsule. The arrow points to a focus of otosclerosis anterior to the oval window B) High power image through the anterior stapedovestibular joint area. The triangle indicates the point of fixation where the otosclerotic lesion contacts and fixes the footplate, but note that there is no extension of otosclerosis into the footplate itself. Therefore, removal of the stapes footplate and histologic examination of the footplate would not show evidence of otosclerosis.