Hallócsontocskát

Hallócsontocskát is the Hungarian word for the stapes, one of the three ossicles found in the middle ear of mammals. The stapes, also known as the stirrup, is the smallest of these three bones. It is located between the incus and the oval window, a membrane-covered opening that connects the middle ear to the inner ear.

The primary function of the hallócsontocskát is to transmit sound vibrations from the incus to the inner ear. Sound waves entering the ear canal cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then amplified and passed along the malleus (hammer) and the incus (anvil) to the hallócsontocskát. The base of the stapes, called the footplate, fits into the oval window. As the stapes vibrates, it pushes against the fluid-filled cochlea in the inner ear, initiating the process of hearing.

The unique shape of the hallócsontocskát, resembling a stirrup, gives it its common English name. Its small size and delicate structure are crucial for its role in the complex mechanism of hearing. Damage or dysfunction of the hallócsontocskát can lead to conductive hearing loss, as it impairs the efficient transmission of sound from the middle ear to the inner ear.