The smallest irregular bone in man is

Options

A. Nasal
B. stapes
C. patella
D. palatine

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Question**: The question asks for the smallest irregular bone in the human body. It is important to identify the types of bones and their characteristics.

2. **Identifying Bone Types**: In human anatomy, bones can be categorized into different types: long bones, short bones, flat bones, irregular bones, and sesamoid bones. Irregular bones are those that do not fit into the other categories due to their complex shapes.

3. **Knowledge of Ear Bones**: Among the bones in the human body, there are three small bones in the ear known as the ossicles: the malleus, incus, and stapes. These bones are crucial for hearing.

4. **Identifying the Smallest Bone**: The stapes is known to be the smallest bone in the human body. It is one of the ossicles located in the middle ear and is shaped like a horseshoe.

5. **Conclusion**: Therefore, the answer to the question is that the smallest irregular bone in man is the **stapes**.

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