What are ossicles?

The ossicles are tiny bones in the middle ear, that form a chain connecting the ear drum (Tympanic membrane, TM) and the inner ear. When airborne sound vibrates the TM, the ossicles perform an “impedance match” allowing sound energy to be transferred into the fluid filled inner ear, rather than just bouncing off.

What are ossicles and what are their function?

The smallest bones in the body, the auditory ossicles, are three bones in each middle ear that work together to transmit soundwaves to the inner ear—thereby playing an essential role in hearing. When sound travels through the ear canal, the eardrum vibrates.

What are the 3 ossicles?

The malleus, incus, and stapes form the ossicular chain that connects the tympanic membrane to the oval window of the inner ear.

What are the 6 ossicles?

The 14 facial bones are the 2 maxilla, mandible, 2 zygoma, 2 lacrimal, 2 nasal, 2 turbinate, vomer and 2 palate bones. The hyoid bone is horseshoe-shaped bone at the base of the tongue. The 6 auditory ossicles (little bones) are the malleus, incus and stapes in each ear.

What does the term ossicles or ear bones mean?

Ossicle , which is also called auditory ossicle is a tiny part of the ear, which is located in the middle ear region. The word ossicle is derived from the Latin word Ossiculum that literally means tiny bone. The term ossicles may also refer to the smaller bones of the human body.

What is the structure of the ossicles?

Ossicles have a variety of forms including flat plates, spines, rods and crosses, and specialised compound structures including pedicellariae and paxillae. Plates are tabular ossicles that fit neatly together in a tessellated manner. They form the main skeletal covering for sea urchins and sea stars.

Do the ossicles belong to the middle ear?

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 sounds from the air to the fluid-filled labyrinth (cochlea).