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The term "quadrate bone" refers to a specific bone found in the skulls of many lower vertebrates. It is a small membrane bone that connects the quadrate and jugal bones on each side of the skull. In mammals, the quadrate bone has evolved into one of the auditory ossicles in the middle ear, known as the incus or anvil. This bone plays a crucial role in transmitting sound vibrations to the inner ear. The quadrate bone itself is also referred to simply as the quadrate.123

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