Final answer:
The bony labyrinth is located within the petrous portion of the temporal bone, which is one of the cranial bones that provides housing for inner ear structures crucial for hearing and balance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cranial bone that contains the bony labyrinth is the temporal bone.
The bony labyrinth is an important part of the inner ear, and it's housed within the petrous portion of the temporal bone.
This complex structure includes the cochlea, vestibule, and semicircular canals, which are essential for hearing and balance.
The sphenoid bone, ethmoid bone, and other cranial bones like the parietal and frontal bones have their respective contributions to cranial structure and cavities but do not contain the bony labyrinth.