Discovered through research around the world fossilsprovides important information about the history of organisms living on our planet and those that have lived before, to the scientific world.

now as well At the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleontology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IVPP) Using fossils millions of years old, scientists found clues to a long-unsolved mystery about humans in a study published in May in the journal Frontiers and Evolution.

The human middle ear appears to have evolved from fish gills

human middle earIt contains three small vibrating bones and plays a major role in transmitting sound vibrations to the inner ear, becoming nerve impulses that enable us to hear. Embryonic and fossil evidence had previously revealed that the human middle ear evolved through openings through which fish can breathe. However, the origin of these gills in vertebrates has long been an unsolved mystery.

Some 20th-century researchers believed that early vertebrates must have had a full spiral gill. between their jaws and tongues they called these breathing holes. However, during these studies, which lasted more than a century, this situation was not found in any fossil. In the research now published, scientists have found clues about this mystery.

One of the authors of the study, Prof. According to GAI Zhikun, researchers at the institute have spent the past 20 years A 438-million-year-old Shuyu brain shell fossil and a 419-million-year-old galeaspid fossil found preserved in gill filaments in various parts of China. GAI Zhikun stated in their statement about this: “these fossils The respiratory opening in vertebrates is based on the gills of fish. provided the first anatomical and fossil evidence of the expressions used.

Breathing openings turned into an auditory canal

By stating that traces of fish can be found in our teeth, jaws and middle ears, and by virtually reconstructing the Shuyu brain fossil, the researchers have provided important information through almost all the details of the main anatomy of this species, its five brain parts, and sensory organs.The main goal of paleontologists is to missing rings to reveal” the expressions used.

†air holeThe so-called ‘breathing openings’ are a small opening behind the eyes in some fish that extends up to the mouth and helps carry out the breathing action that ensures the survival of the species. Polypterus, the most primitive bony fish, also uses these openings to breathe air. But the findings showed that this opening changed in most non-fish species as they evolved to breathe through the nose and mouth.

According to experts, the opening called the “spiracle” in early tetrapods first evolved into Otic notches, which are said to be part of the auditory structure. It was initially used for breathing, like the other diaphragm, and could not detect any sound. In this process, which is also said to be seen in human evolution, this opening later turned into the ear of the tetrapods and was eventually used to transmit sound to the brain through the bones of the inner ear. channel reported.