Ossikulære

Ossikulære, also known as ossicles, are a set of three small bones located in the middle ear of humans and other mammals. These bones, the malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), and stapes (stirrup), play a crucial role in the auditory system by transmitting sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear. The ossicles are the smallest bones in the human body, with the stapes being the smallest, measuring approximately 2.8 millimeters in length.

The ossicles are derived from the first and second pharyngeal arches during embryonic development. The malleus and incus develop from the first arch, while the stapes originates from the second arch. These bones are connected by synovial joints, allowing them to pivot and transmit sound waves efficiently. The malleus is attached to the eardrum, and the stapes is connected to the oval window of the cochlea in the inner ear.

The primary function of the ossicles is to amplify and transmit sound vibrations. When sound waves hit the eardrum, it vibrates and moves the attached malleus. The malleus then transmits the vibrations to the incus, which in turn passes them to the stapes. The stapes, in contact with the oval window, transmits the vibrations into the fluid-filled cochlea, where they are converted into neural signals and sent to the brain.

Diseases or injuries affecting the ossicles can lead to hearing loss or other auditory problems. Conditions such as otosclerosis, where abnormal bone growth in the middle ear affects the stapes, can cause conductive hearing loss. Surgical procedures, such as ossiculoplasty, may be performed to repair or replace damaged ossicles and restore hearing function.