The inner ear is located in the ______ bone.

• A. parietal
• B. frontal
• C. occipital
• D. temporal

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Begin by identifying the anatomical location of the inner ear. The inner ear is a complex structure responsible for hearing and balance, and it is housed within a specific cranial bone.
2. Step 2: Review the cranial bones listed in the options: parietal, frontal, occipital, and temporal. Understand the general location and function of each bone.
3. Step 3: Recall that the temporal bone is located on the sides of the skull, near the ears, and contains structures such as the cochlea and semicircular canals, which are part of the inner ear.
4. Step 4: Eliminate the other options based on their anatomical locations: the parietal bone is on the top and sides of the skull, the frontal bone forms the forehead, and the occipital bone is at the back of the skull. None of these house the inner ear.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the correct answer is the temporal bone, as it is the bone that encloses the inner ear structures.