mesenchymatous cells (procartilagenous stylohyal; intercalare) are produced by the distal end of the shaft (Figure 8, INT, SH).
In more developing Malpolon embryo (Figure 10, INT), the mesenchymatous cells which produced by the distal end of the shaft becomes cartilaginous in its structure; stylohyal nodule.
The stylohyal is a homologue structure to the intercalary cartilage of non Ophidian Squamates (Rieppel, 1980), which is generally involved in the suspension of the quadrate bone in lizards (Oelrich, 1956).
Procartilagenous stylohyal; intercalare (INT) produced by distal end of columellar shaft.
(3) Reichert's cartilage is divided into a dorsal segment (Which forms stapes), tympanohyal, stylohyal, epihyal and ceratohyal.
Development: Proximal part from tympanohyal and distal part from stylohyal segments.
It is derived from ceretohyal segment Ossified epihyal components continuous with stylohyal components gives the appearance of abnormally long styloid process.