temporal bone

American  

noun

Anatomy, Zoology.

1. either of a pair of thick compound bones forming the part of the skull that encases the inner ear.

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temporal bone British  

noun

1. either of two compound bones forming part of the sides and base of the skull: they surround the organs of hearing

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Etymology

Origin of temporal bone

First recorded in 1765–75

Example Sentences

To investigate further, scientists extracted ancient DNA from the petrous portion of the temporal bone in both skeletons, an area known for preserving genetic material.

From Science Daily • Feb. 17, 2026

It was at the point after the nerve passes through the inner ear and enters the temporal bone, on its way to the muscles of the face.

From New York Times • Sep. 29, 2022

Each parietal bone is also bounded anteriorly by the frontal bone, inferiorly by the temporal bone, and posteriorly by the occipital bone.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

On the lateral skull, the zygomatic arch consists of two parts, the temporal process of the zygomatic bone anteriorly and the zygomatic process of the temporal bone posteriorly.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Lon gave her the skull, feeling her open palms slide over the backs of his hands, and pointed to the cavity in the temporal bone.

From "The Reader" by Traci Chee