哺乳動物的聽小骨進化過程被認為是生物進化過程中最完備[1] 也是最重要的事件之一。這個進化事件的過程展現了大量的演變過程,並成為預適應和已有結構再作用的最佳範例。
在爬行動物中, 耳鼓與內耳是通過一根骨頭(鼻小柱)連接在一起的,爬行動物上下顎之間的多塊骨頭在哺乳動物中沒有發現。在哺乳動物進化的過程中,其中一塊上顎骨(方塊骨)和一塊下顎骨(關節骨)失去了功用,但是被中耳借用來與鐙骨連接,形成了一串三個用來放大聲音的聽小骨。在哺乳動物中,這三塊骨頭叫做錘骨、砧骨和鐙骨。
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