What is Ossicles?
{{Infobox bone | Name = Ossicles | Latin = Ossicula auditus,<br /> ossicula auditoria | Image = Blausen 0330 EarAnatomy MiddleEar.png | Caption = Auditory ossicles: [[Malleus]], [[incus]] and [[stapes]] | Width = 300 | Image2 = Auditory ossicles-en.svg | Caption2 = | PartOf = [[Middle ear]] }} The '''ossicles''' are the three smallest [[bone]]s in the [[human body]]. They may be called ear bones or auditory ossicles. They are in the [[auditory system]] of all [[mammal]]s. They are contained within the [[middle ear]] space and serve to transmit [[sound]]s from the air to the fluid-filled [[labyrinth (inner ear)|labyrinth]] ([[cochlea]]). The absence of the auditory ossicles would cause moderate-to-severe [[deafness]]. ==Anatomy== The '''ossicles''' are, in order from the eardrum to the inner ear (from superficial to deep), the '''malleus''', '''incus''', and '''stapes'''. The terms mean [[hammer]], [[anvil]], and [[stirrup]]. *The malleus (hammer) connects with the incus and is attached to the [[tympanic membrane]] ([[eardrum]]), from which vibrational sound pressure motion is passed. *The incus (anvil) is connected to both the other bones. *The stapes (stirrup) connects with the incus and is attached to the membrane of the ''fenestra ovalis'', the [[Ellipse|elliptical]] or [[oval]] window or opening between the middle ear and the [[inner ear]]. ==Development== Studies have shown that ear bones in mammal embryos are attached to the [[dentary]], which is part of the lower [[jaw]]. These are ossified (turned into bone) portions of [[cartilage]] -- called [[Meckel's cartilage]] -- that are attached to the jaw. As the [[embryo]] develops, the cartilage hardens to form bone. Later in development, the bone structure breaks loose from the jaw and migrates to the inner ear area. The structure is known as the middle ear, and is made up of the incus, stapes, malleus, and tympanic membrane. These correspond to the [[Quadrate bone|quadrate]], [[prearticular]], [[articular]], a