<Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The ossicles (also called auditory ossicles) are three bones in either middle ear that are among the smallest bones in the human body . They serve to transmit sounds from the air to the fluid - filled labyrinth (cochlea). The absence of the auditory ossicles would constitute a moderate - to - severe hearing loss . The term "ossicle" literally means "tiny bone". Though the term may refer to any small bone throughout the body, it typically refers to the malleus, incus, and stapes (hammer, anvil, and stirrup) of the middle ear . </P> <P> The ossicles are, in order from the eardrum to the inner ear (from superficial to deep): the malleus, incus, and stapes, terms that in Latin are translated as "the hammer, anvil, and stirrup". </P> <Ul> <Li> The malleus (Latin: "hammer") articulates with the incus through the incudomalleolar joint and is attached to the tympanic membrane (eardrum), from which vibrational sound pressure motion is passed . </Li> <Li> The incus (Latin: "anvil") is connected to both the other bones . </Li> <Li> The stapes (Latin: "stirrup") articulates with the incus through the incudostapedial joint and is attached to the membrane of the fenestra ovalis, the elliptical or oval window or opening between the middle ear and the vestibule of the inner ear . It is the smallest bone in the body . </Li> </Ul>

The innermost of the ossicles is the stapes