Reichert's cartilage derivatives are associated with which pharyngeal arch?

• A. First arch
• B. Second arch
• C. Third arch
• D. Fourth arch

Answer: (B)

Reichert's cartilage comes from the second pharyngeal arch, so its derivatives define what that arch contributes. Specifically, Reichert's cartilage forms the stapes, the styloid process of the temporal bone, the stylohyoid ligament, and the lesser horn plus the upper part of the body of the hyoid bone. This connection to the second arch explains why the correct association is the second arch. By contrast, other arches have different cartilaginous derivatives: the first arch yields Meckel's cartilage with the mandible and the malleus and incus; the third arch contributes to the greater horn and lower body of the hyoid; the fourth arch contributes to laryngeal cartilages.