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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.
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