Ossicles
Three bones in each middle ear that are among the smallest bones in the human body / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the bones in the human ear. For elements embedded in the body wall of echinoderms, see Ossicle (echinoderm).
The ossicles (also called auditory ossicles) are three bones in either middle ear that are among the smallest bones in the human body. They serve to transmit sound vibrations sent from the ear drum to the fluid-filled labyrinth (cochlea). The absence of the auditory ossicles would constitute a moderate-to-severe hearing loss. The term "ossicle" literally means "tiny bone". Though the term may refer to any small bone throughout the body, it typically refers to the malleus, incus, and stapes (hammer, anvil, and stirrup) of the middle ear.