Malleus

Definition

The malleus is one of the three small bones, also known as the ossicles, located in the middle ear that transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear. It is connected to the eardrum at one end and articulates with another ossicle called the incus at its other end.

Related terms

Incus: The incus is an anvil-shaped small bone in the middle ear that receives vibrations from the malleus and transfers them to another bone called stapes.

Stapes: The stapes is a stirrup-shaped bone in the middle ear, which takes vibrations from the incus and passes them into a structure called cochlea in the inner ear.

Cochlea: The cochlea is a spiral-shaped cavity in the inner ear that transforms sound vibrations into nerve impulses that are interpreted by the brain