What is "tympanic bone"

Tympanic \Tym*pan"ic\ (?; 277), a. [See Tympanum.]

1. Like a tympanum or drum; acting like a drumhead; as, a tympanic membrane.

2. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the tympanum.

   Tympanic bone (Anat.), a bone of the skull which incloses a part of the tympanum and supports the tympanic membrane.

   Tympanic membrane. (Anat.) See the Note under Ear.

n. (context anatomy English) A bone of the skull which encloses part of the tympanum and supports the tympanic membrane.

n. the bone enclosing the middle ear