Final answer:
The external and internal acoustic meatuses are in the tympanic and petrous regions of the temporal bone respectively, so the correct answer is B) tympanic; petrous.
Step-by-step explanation:
The external and internal acoustic meatuses are located in different regions of the temporal bone. The external acoustic meatus is part of the large opening on the lateral side of the skull associated with the ear. In contrast, the internal acoustic meatus is located on the medial side of the petrous ridge in the posterior cranial fossa, providing passage for nerves from the hearing and equilibrium organs of the inner ear, and the nerve that supplies the muscles of the face. Therefore, the correct answer to the question 'The external and internal acoustic meatuses are in the ________ and ________ regions of the temporal bone, respectively.' is B) tympanic; petrous.