Incus
Incus
Incus (/ˈɪnkəs/), also known as the anvil, is the anvil-shaped small bone or ossicle in the middle ear. It connects the malleus to the stapes.
Etymology
The term "incus" is Latin for "anvil", in line with the bone's shape. It was first used in this context by Vesalius in 1543.
Anatomy
The incus is one of three ossicles in the human ear, along with the malleus and the stapes. It is the second of these bones, located between the malleus (which is attached to the tympanic membrane or eardrum) and the stapes (which is attached to the oval window of the cochlea). The incus receives vibrations from the malleus, to which it is connected laterally, and transmits these to the stapes medially.
Function
The primary function of the incus is to convey sound vibrations from the malleus to the stapes. This is a crucial part of the process by which sound is transmitted from the outer ear to the inner ear and then to the brain for interpretation.
Related Terms
- Ossicles: The three tiny bones in the middle ear, including the incus, malleus, and stapes.
- Malleus: The hammer-shaped small bone or ossicle in the middle ear which connects with the incus.
- Stapes: The stirrup-shaped small bone or ossicle in the middle ear which connects with the incus.
- Tympanic membrane: The eardrum, which vibrates in response to sound waves and transmits these vibrations to the ossicles.
- Oval window: A membrane-covered opening that leads from the middle ear to the vestibule of the inner ear.
- Cochlea: The spiral-shaped part of the inner ear that is responsible for converting sound vibrations into nerve impulses.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Incus
- Wikipedia's article - Incus
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