malleus n : the ossicle attached to the eardrum [syn: hammer] [also: mallei (pl)]

English

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -æliəs

Noun

malleus (plural mallei)

1. (anatomy) The small hammer-shaped bone of the middle ear.

Translations

• Czech: kladívko
• Finnish: vasara, vasaraluu
• Polish: młoteczek
• Slovene: kladivce

Synonyms

• hammer

Latin

Noun

malleus, mallei m

1. hammer

The malleus or hammer is a hammer-shaped small bone or ossicle of the middle ear which connects with the incus and is attached to the inner surface of the eardrum. The word is Latin for hammer.

It transmits the sound vibrations from the eardrum to the incus.

The malleus is unique to mammals, and evolved from a lower jaw bone in basal amniotes called the articular, which still forms part of the jaw joint in reptiles.

Additional images

Image:Illu auditory ossicles.jpg|Ossicles ’s cartilage and hyoid bar exposed.

See also

• Bone terminology
• Terms for anatomical location
• Evolution_of_mammalian_auditory_ossicles

References

External links

[http://www.anatomywiz.com?Malleus1 The Anatomy Wiz]Malleus