Stapes

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Bone: Stapes
A. Left stapes. B. Base of stapes, medial surface.
Chain of ossicles and their ligaments, seen from the front in a vertical, transverse section of the tympanum.
Bones and muscles in the tympanic cavity in the middle ear
Gray's subject #231 1045
Precursor 2nd branchial arch[1]
MeSH Stapes

The stapes or stirrup is the stirrup-shaped small bone or ossicle in the middle ear which attaches the incus to the fenestra ovalis, the "oval window" which is adjacent to the vestibule of the inner ear. It is the smallest and lightest bone in the human body.

The stapes transmits the sound vibrations from the incus to the membrane of the inner ear inside the fenestra ovalis.

In non-mammalian vertebrates, the bone homologous to the stapes is usually called the columella; however, in reptiles, either term may be used.

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The medial wall and part of the posterior and anterior walls of the right tympanic cavity, lateral view.

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[edit] References

  1. ^ Embryology at UNC hednk-023

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v • d • e
Sensory system: Auditory system
Outer ear: Pinna (Helix, Antihelix, Tragus, Antitragus, Earlobe) - Ear canal

Middle ear: Eardrum - Ossicles (Malleus, Incus & Stapes) - Stapedius - Tensor tympani - Eustachian tube (Torus tubarius)

Inner ear/Labyrinth: Bony labyrinth - Membranous labyrinth - Cochlea (Cochlear duct, Scala vestibuli, Scala media & Scala tympani) - Oval window - Helicotrema - Round window - Basilar membrane - Reissner's membrane - Organ of Corti - Hair cells - Stereocilia - Sulcus spiralis externus - Sulcus spiralis internus - Tectorial membrane - Vestibule

Brain: Cochlear nerve VIII → Cochlear nuclei → Superior olivary nuclei → Lateral lemniscus → Inferior colliculi → Medial geniculate nuclei → Primary auditory cortex
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