The auditory ossicles consist of three small bones found within a space (the tympanic cavity) in the temporal bone of the skull.   The bones (which are named for their shape) are connected by synovial joints.  Resting against the oval window of inner ear is the stapes (stirrup), which articulates with the middle ossicle called the incus (anvil).  The incus articulates with the malleus (hammer), whose "handle" is attached to the internal surface of the tympanic membrane (eardrum).  Sound-induced vibrations of the tympanic membrane are thereby amplified and transmitted through these ossicles to the inner ear where they are interpreted as sound.