Incus
The incus, also known as the anvil, is a small bone in the middle ear that plays a crucial role in the auditory system of mammals. It is one of the three ossicles, the others being the malleus and the stapes. These bones are responsible for transmitting sound vibrations from the air to the fluid-filled cochlea.
Anatomy[edit | edit source]
The incus is the second ossicle in the chain of three bones in the middle ear. It is located between the malleus, which is attached to the tympanic membrane, and the stapes, which connects to the oval window of the cochlea.
The incus has a body and two limbs:
- The body of the incus articulates with the head of the malleus.
- The short limb projects horizontally backward and is attached to the posterior wall of the tympanic cavity by a ligament.
- The long limb descends vertically and ends in a rounded projection called the lenticular process, which articulates with the head of the stapes.
Function[edit | edit source]
The primary function of the incus is to transmit sound vibrations from the malleus to the stapes. When sound waves strike the tympanic membrane, they cause it to vibrate. These vibrations are transferred to the malleus, which then transmits them to the incus. The incus, in turn, passes these vibrations to the stapes, which then transmits them to the oval window of the cochlea.
The incus acts as a lever, amplifying the force of the vibrations as they pass from the malleus to the stapes. This amplification is necessary to overcome the impedance mismatch between the air in the ear canal and the fluid in the cochlea.
Development[edit | edit source]
The incus develops from the first pharyngeal arch during embryonic development. It is derived from the cartilage of the arch, known as Meckel's cartilage. The ossification of the incus begins in the fetal period and continues after birth.
Clinical significance[edit | edit source]
Damage or dysfunction of the incus can lead to conductive hearing loss. This can occur due to trauma, infection, or congenital malformations. Surgical procedures, such as ossiculoplasty, may be performed to repair or replace the incus to restore hearing.
Also see[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
