Ossicles
Ossicles
Ossicles (/ˈɒsɪkəlz/; from Latin os, "bone") are small bones found in numerous animals, though the term is most commonly used to refer to the three bones of the human middle ear: the malleus, the incus, and the stapes. These bones are important in the transmission of sound from the outer ear to the inner ear.
Etymology
The term "ossicle" comes from the Latin os, meaning "bone", and the diminutive suffix -icle, meaning "small". Thus, "ossicle" literally means "small bone".
Function
The ossicles function to transmit sounds from the air to the fluid-filled labyrinth (cochlea). The absence or disfunction of the ossicles would constitute a moderate-to-severe hearing loss.
Related Terms
- Malleus: Also known as the hammer, it is the first of the three ossicles and receives vibrations from the tympanic membrane (eardrum).
- Incus: Also known as the anvil, it is the second ossicle and articulates with the malleus and the stapes.
- Stapes: Also known as the stirrup, it is the third ossicle and is the smallest bone in the human body. It transmits sound vibrations from the incus to the inner ear.
- Tympanic membrane: Also known as the eardrum, it vibrates in response to sound waves and transmits these vibrations to the ossicles.
- Cochlea: The spiral-shaped, fluid-filled inner ear structure that is responsible for converting sound vibrations into nerve impulses.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Ossicles
- Wikipedia's article - Ossicles
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