What specific bony structure contributes to the extreme flexibility of a snake's upper jaw?
Answer
The quadrate bone
The flexibility of the skull, known as cranial kinesis, is facilitated by specialized joints, including the quadrate bone, which allows the jaws to separate widely.

Related Questions
What term describes how snakes regulate their body temperature?What physical trait universally distinguishes snakes from limbless lizards?What is the typical range for the number of vertebrae in a snake's spine?Which paired internal organs in snakes are arranged one ahead of the other rather than side-by-side?What are the specialized, broader ventral scales called that aid in gripping the substrate?What is the term for the periodic shedding of a snake's outer skin layer?What specific bony structure contributes to the extreme flexibility of a snake's upper jaw?How do snakes analyze the chemical particles collected by their forked tongue?What kind of pupil shape is commonly associated with nocturnal snake species?Which mode of locomotion involves lifting parts of the body and throwing them forward at an angle on slick surfaces?In which movement mode does the snake anchor its back section to extend forward in confined tunnels?