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]]