# What are the temporal bones?

The temporal bones is called the temporal bones. Gray's Anatomy (1918) describes it as a pair of irregular bones on each side of the skull.

## What it means

- A pair of irregular bones on each side of the skull.
- House the middle and inner ear.
- Provide a socket for the lower jaw at the temporomandibular joint.

## Action steps

1. On each side and base of the skull, at the level of the ear.
2. Joined to the parietal bone above, the occipital behind, and the sphenoid and zygomatic in front.
3. The mastoid process projects downward behind the ear.

## Sources

- [Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body (1918)](https://www.bartleby.com/107/)

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