An ossicle is a small bone found in the middle ear of most vertebrates, including humans. There are three types of ossicles in the human ear: the malleus (hammer), the incus (anvil), and the stapes (stirrup). These bones work together to transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear. The malleus is connected to the eardrum, the incus is connected to the malleus, and the stapes is connected to the incus. The stapes then vibrates against the oval window, a membrane that separates the middle ear from the inner ear, and transmits the vibrations to the cochlea, where they are converted into nerve impulses that are sent to the brain.
