Knöchelchen

Knöchelchen is a German-language term used as the diminutive form of Knöchel, meaning knuckle or ankle. It is not a formal anatomical term. Its exact meaning depends on context and audience. In everyday speech, Knöchelchen may refer to small bones near joints, such as the knuckles of the fingers, the bones around the ankle, or other small bones that are easy to point to in a non-technical description. Because Knöchel has multiple senses, the word can be ambiguous without clarifying context.

In medical writing and education, more precise terms are normally used. For example, the three auditory ossicles of the middle ear are typically called Gehörknöchelchen. When referring to bones in the limbs, clinicians name the specific bone (such as metatarsals, phalanges, tarsals) rather than using the general diminutive. The diminutive may nevertheless appear in patient-friendly texts, textbooks for children, or colloquial explanations where a casual tone is desired.

Related terms include Knöchel (joint or ankle, depending on context), Gehörknöchelchen for the ear bones, and the broader category of Knochen (bones) and Gelenke (joints). See also Anatomie.