## Reichert's Cartilage (2nd Pharyngeal Arch Cartilage) **Key Point:** Reichert's cartilage is the cartilage template of the **second pharyngeal arch** (hyoid arch). It gives rise to the following skeletal elements: ### Derivatives of Reichert's Cartilage | Derivative | Structure | | --- | --- | | **Stapes** | Auditory ossicle (middle ear) | | **Styloid process** | Temporal bone projection | | **Stylohyoid ligament** | Ligament connecting styloid to hyoid | | **Lesser horn of hyoid** | Part of hyoid bone | | **Upper body of hyoid** | Part of hyoid bone | ### Derivatives of Meckel's Cartilage (1st Pharyngeal Arch) | Derivative | Structure | | --- | --- | | **Malleus** | Auditory ossicle (middle ear) | | **Incus** | Auditory ossicle (middle ear) | | **Anterior malleal ligament** | Ligament of malleus | | **Sphenomandibular ligament** | Ligament of mandible | **High-Yield:** The classic teaching is: **Malleus and Incus → 1st arch (Meckel's cartilage); Stapes → 2nd arch (Reichert's cartilage)**. Among the answer options, **Stapes and styloid process** are both 2nd arch (Reichert's cartilage) derivatives, making option B the correct answer. ### Mnemonic **"MIM" = Meckel's → Incus + Malleus; "RS" = Reichert's → Stapes (+ styloid process)** ### Clinical Pearl The styloid process and its associated ligaments are derived from Reichert's cartilage. Elongation of the styloid process or stylohyoid ligament can cause Eagle syndrome (stylohyoid syndrome), characterized by throat pain and dysphagia. [cite:Langman's Medical Embryology 14e, Ch 10; Moore & Persaud, The Developing Human 10e, Ch 10] 
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