Articular 838993 200296354 2008-03-23T13:51:19Z Leptictidium 358207 The '''articular''' bone is in the lower jaw of most [[tetrapods]], including [[amphibians]], [[sauropsids]] ("reptiles"), [[birds]] and early [[synapsids]]. In these animals it is connected to two other lower jaw bones, the [[suprangular]] and the [[angular]]; and it forms the jaw joint by articulating with the [[quadrate bone]] of the skull. But in [[mammals]] the articular and quadrate bones have migrated to the [[middle ear]] and are known as the [[malleus]] and [[incus]]. In fact [[paleontologists]] regard this modification as the defining characteristic of mammals.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.palaeos.com/Vertebrates/Units/Unit420/420.000.html | title=Mammaliformes: Overview - Palaeos}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} [[Category:Skeletal system]] [[Category:Animal anatomy]] [[ca:Os articular]] [[uk:Зчленовна кістка]]