The ectotympanic, or tympanicum, is a bony structure found in all mammals, located on the tympanic part of the temporal bone, which holds the tympanic membrane (eardrum) in place. In catarrhine primates (including humans), it takes a tube-shape.[1][2] Its position and attachment to the skull vary between primates, and can be either inside or outside the auditory bulla.[3][4]

It is homologous with the angular bone of non-mammalian tetrapods.

References

  1. ^ Fricano, Ellen Elise Irwin (2018). "The Primate Ectotympanic Tube: Correlates of Structure, Function, and Development". ((cite journal)): Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ^ Ankel-Simons, F. (2007). Primate Anatomy (3rd ed.). Academic Press. pp. 435–436. ISBN 0-12-372576-3.
  3. ^ Archibald, J.D. (1977). "Ectotympanic bone and internal carotid circulation of eutherians in reference to anthropoid origins". Journal of Human Evolution. 6 (7): 609–622. doi:10.1016/S0047-2484(77)80134-6.
  4. ^ Sellers, W.I. "Strepsirhine/Haplorhine Split" (PDF). Retrieved 18 August 2010.[permanent dead link]

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