Malleus
Malleus
Malleus (/ˈmæliəs/; Latin for "hammer") is one of the three small bones in the middle ear that serve to transmit sounds from the air to the fluid-filled labyrinth (cochlea). The malleus receives vibrations from the tympanic membrane and transmits this to the incus.
Etymology
The term "malleus" is derived from the Latin word for hammer, due to the bone's hammer-like shape. It is the first of the three ossicles in the middle ear, which are named for their distinctive shapes. The other two are the incus (anvil) and the stapes (stirrup).
Anatomy
The malleus is a bone situated in the middle ear. It has a long process (manubrium), which is attached to the mobile portion of the eardrum (tympanic membrane). The other end of the malleus, the head, articulates with the incus.
Function
The primary function of the malleus is to receive sound vibrations from the tympanic membrane and transmit them to the incus, the next bone in the chain. This process amplifies the sound, allowing it to be picked up by the fluid in the cochlea and transmitted to the brain.
Related Terms
- Tympanic membrane: The eardrum, which vibrates in response to sound waves and transmits these vibrations to the malleus.
- Incus: The second of the three ossicles in the middle ear, which receives vibrations from the malleus and passes them on to the stapes.
- Stapes: The third and smallest of the ossicles, which receives vibrations from the incus and transmits them to the fluid in the cochlea.
- Cochlea: The spiral-shaped, fluid-filled inner ear structure that transforms the sound vibrations received from the middle ear into electrical signals that the brain can interpret.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Malleus
- Wikipedia's article - Malleus
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