The ossicles (also called auditory ossicles) are the three smallest bones in the human body. They are contained within the middle ear space and serve to transmit sounds from the air to the fluid filled labyrinth (cochlea). The absence of the auditory ossicles would constitute a moderate to severe hearing loss. Grays illustration of a human femur, a typically recognized bone. ... For an alternative meaning, see ear (botany). ... A schematic representation of auditory signaling Sound is vibration, as perceived by the sense of hearing. ... See also Labyrinth, an article treating the mythical maze that imprisoned the Minotaur. ... Cross section of the cochlea. ...

The ossicles are, in order from the eardrum to the inner ear, the hammer, anvil, and stirrup, so named because of the shape of the bones. They are also commonly referred to by the equivalent Latin terms: malleus, incus, and stapes respectively. A claw hammer on the ground. ... A blacksmith working iron with a hammer and anvil An anvil An anvil is a manufacturing tool, consisting of a hard and massive block of stone or metal used as a support for hammering or chiseling other objects. ... Haniwa horse statuette, complete with saddle and stirrups, 6th century, Kofun period, Japan. ... The malleus is hammer-shaped small bone or ossicle of the middle ear which connects with the incus and is attached to the inner surface of the eardrum. ... The incus is the anvil-shaped small bone or ossicle in the middle ear. ... 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. ...

The incus is connected to both the other bones. The malleus articulates with the incus and is attached to the eardrum, from which vibrational energy is passed. The stapes articulates with the incus and is attached to the membrane of the fenestra ovalis, the elliptical or oval window or opening between the middle ear and the vestibule of the inner ear. The tympanum or tympanic membrane, colloquially known as eardrum, is a thin membrane that separates the outer ear from the middle ear. ... The fenestra ovalis or oval window is a membrane-covered opening which leads from the middle ear to the vestibule of the inner ear. ... For an alternative meaning, see ear (botany). ... Vestibule can have the following meanings: A large entrance, reception area, antechamber, or room A small room or passage that connects the outer door of a building to the interior of the building An area in a train where people get on and off. ... For an alternative meaning, see ear (botany). ...

As sound waves vibrate the eardrum (tympanic membrane), it in turn moves the nearest ossicle, the malleus to which it is attached. The malleus then transmits the vibrations, via the incus, to the stapes, and so ultimately to the membrane of the fenestra ovalis, the opening to the vestibule of the inner ear. The tympanum or tympanic membrane, colloquially known as eardrum, is a thin membrane that separates the outer ear from the middle ear. ... The tympanum or tympanic membrane, colloquially known as eardrum, is a thin membrane that separates the outer ear from the middle ear. ... The fenestra ovalis or oval window is a membrane-covered opening which leads from the middle ear to the vestibule of the inner ear. ... For an alternative meaning, see ear (botany). ...

The ossicles give the eardrum mechanical advantage; the resulting vibrations would be much smaller if the sound waves were transmitted directly from the outer ear to the oval window. However, the extent of the movements of the ossicles is controlled (and constricted) by certain muscles attached to them (the tensor tympani and the stapedius) in order to protect the inner ear from excessively loud noise (see acoustic reflex). In physics and engineering, mechanical advantage (MA) is the factor by which a machine multiplies the force put into it. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The acoustic reflex is an involuntary muscle contraction that occurs in the middle ear of mammals in response to loud sound stimuli. ...