Ossicles

Definition

Ossicles are three tiny bones located in the middle ear named the malleus, incus, and stapes, which are essential for transmitting sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear. They amplify sound waves and play a crucial role in our ability to hear.

Related terms

Cochlea:

A spiral-shaped cavity in the inner ear that converts sound vibrations into nerve impulses which are sent to the brain.

Eardrum: A thin membrane that vibrates when sound waves hit it, initiating the process of hearing by transferring these vibrations to the ossicles.

Auditory nerve: A bundle of nerve fibers that carries hearing information from the cochlea to the brain