Final answer:
The bones responsible for transmitting sound for bone conduction are the auditory ossicles in the middle ear, which include the malleus, incus, and stapes. These ossicles are critical for conveying vibrations to the cochlea for sound perception.
Step-by-step explanation:
A patient diagnosed with a bone conduction hearing disorder raises the question about which bones are responsible for transmitting sound for bone conduction. In the context of hearing, the auditory ossicles of the middle ear are crucial in this process. These ossicles include the malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), and stapes (stirrup). These three tiny bones transmit sound from the air as vibrations to the fluid-filled cochlea and are unique to mammals. The surrounding bones of the skull, which include the temporal bone with the external auditory meatus, also play a role in sound transmission to some extent. However, the actual bones responsible for bone conduction hearing are the malleus, incus, and stapes located within the middle ear. Other facial bones like the maxilla, mandible, and regions such as the mastoid process of the temporal bone provide cavities and attachment points for sensory organs and muscles rather than directly transmitting sounds. Bone conduction refers to the transmission of sound vibrations through the bones of the skull to the inner ear. The bones involved in bone conduction include the skull bones, particularly the temporal bone. The vibrations reach the cochlea in the inner ear, bypassing the external auditory canal and middle ear. The other options (maxilla, mastoid, and mandible) are not directly involved in bone conduction for hearing.