This is the smaller of two spine-like processes from the junction of the neck and manubrium mallei. As its name suggests, it projects anteriorly from the bone. It is connected by a ligament to the petrotympanic fissure. These ligamentous fibers are remnants of Meckel's cartilage. They are traceable through the fissure to the spine of the sphenoid and into the sphenomandibular ligament.

Process is a term used in anatomy to describe a projection on a bone. It comes from the Latin pro- meaning forward and cessus for gone. It is an old term that can be traced back to the writings of the early anatomist Celsus.

Processus anterior mallei