temporal bone

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

temporal bone
    n 1: a thick bone forming the side of the human cranium and
         encasing the inner ear [syn: {temporal bone}, {os
         temporale}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Temporal \Tem"po*ral\, a. [L. temporalis, fr. tempora the
   temples: cf. F. temporal. See {Temple} a part of the head.]
   (Anat.)
   Of or pertaining to the temple or temples; as, the temporal
   bone; a temporal artery.
   [1913 Webster]

   {Temporal bone}, a very complex bone situated in the side of
      the skull of most mammals and containing the organ of
      hearing. It consists of an expanded squamosal portion
      above the ear, corresponding to the squamosal and zygoma
      of the lower vertebrates, and a thickened basal petrosal
      and mastoid portion, corresponding to the periotic and
      tympanic bones of the lower vertebrates.
      [1913 Webster]