Stirrup
(Redirected from Stirrups)
Small U-shaped bone in the middle ear
| Latin | Stapes |
|---|---|
| System | Auditory system |
The stirrup, also known as the stapes, is a small bone in the middle ear of humans and other mammals. It is involved in the conduction of sound vibrations to the inner ear. The stapes is the smallest and lightest bone in the human body.
Anatomy[edit | edit source]
The stapes is one of the three ossicles in the middle ear, the others being the malleus (hammer) and the incus (anvil). It has a stirrup-like shape, which is where it gets its name. The stapes consists of a head, neck, two limbs (anterior and posterior crura), and a base (footplate). The head of the stapes articulates with the incus, and the base fits into the oval window, a membrane-covered opening to the inner ear.
Function[edit | edit source]
The primary function of the stapes is to transmit sound vibrations from the incus to the oval window, a membrane-covered opening to the cochlea of the inner ear. When sound waves enter the ear, they cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted through the ossicles (malleus, incus, and stapes) to the oval window. The movement of the stapes at the oval window creates pressure waves in the fluid-filled cochlea, which ultimately leads to the perception of sound.
Development[edit | edit source]
The stapes develops from the second pharyngeal arch during embryonic development. It is fully formed by the time of birth and continues to grow slightly during early childhood.
Clinical significance[edit | edit source]
Abnormalities or damage to the stapes can lead to hearing loss. One common condition affecting the stapes is otosclerosis, a disease in which abnormal bone growth around the stapes impedes its movement, leading to conductive hearing loss. Surgical procedures, such as a stapedectomy, can be performed to improve hearing in individuals with otosclerosis.
Related pages[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
 | This anatomy article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
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
