What is quadrate bone?

The quadrate bone is a small, quadrilateral-shaped bone found in the skull of many animals, including birds, turtles, and crocodilians. In birds, it is located in the skull between the eye socket and ear hole and helps to transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear. It is also involved in jaw muscle attachment and movement. In turtles and crocodilians, it is located at the base of the skull and is involved in jaw muscle attachment and biting force. In humans, the quadrate bone is a vestigial structure that is present during early development but eventually fuses to other bones and disappears.