Stapes
| Stapes, Stirrup | |
|---|---|
Stapes
Bones and muscles in the tympanic cavity in the middle ear
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Frontal view of stapes (A), and view from below (B).
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| Details | |
| Precursor | 2nd branchial arch |
| Articulations | Incudostapedial joint |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | Stapes |
| MeSH | A09.246.397.247.806 |
| TA | A15.3.02.033 |
| FMA | 52751 |
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Anatomical terms of bone
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The stapes /ˈsteɪpiːz/ or stirrup is a bone in the middle ear of humans and other mammals which is involved in the conduction of sound vibrations to the inner ear. The stirrup-shaped small bone is on and transmits these to the oval window, medially. The stapes is the smallest and lightest named bone in the human body, and is so-called because of its resemblance to a stirrup (Latin: Stapes).
The stapes is the third bone of the three ossicles in the middle ear. The stapes is a stirrup-shaped bone, and the smallest in the human body. It rests on the oval window, to which it is connected by an annular ligament. The stapes is described as having a base, resting on the oval window, as well as a head that articulates with the incus. These are connected by anterior and posterior limbs (Latin: crura). The stapes articulates with the incus through the incudostapedial joint. The stapes is the smallest bone in the human body, and measures roughly 3 x 2.5mm, greater along the head-base span.
The stapes develops from the second pharyngeal arch during the sixth to eighth week of embryological life. The central cavity of the stapedius is due to the presence embryologically of the stapedial artery, which later regresses.
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