Which bone is the second auditory ossicle that transmits vibrations from the malleus to the stapes?

Which bone is the second auditory ossicle that transmits vibrations from the malleus to the stapes?

• A. Malleus
• B. Stapes
• C. Incus
• D. Pinna

Answer: (C)

In the middle ear, sound vibrations are carried through three tiny bones that form a lever system. The malleus (hammer) is the first to receive vibrations from the eardrum, then passes them to the next bone, the incus (anvil), which serves as the bridge to the stapes (stirrup). The incus is shaped and aligned to transfer and slightly amplify the force from the malleus to the stapes, which then pushes on the oval window of the inner ear to drive fluid movement and start hearing. The pinna belongs to the outer ear and doesn’t participate in transmitting vibrations between middle-ear bones. So, the second auditory ossicle that transmits vibrations from the malleus to the stapes is the incus.

In the middle ear, sound vibrations are carried through three tiny bones that form a lever system. The malleus (hammer) is the first to receive vibrations from the eardrum, then passes them to the next bone, the incus (anvil), which serves as the bridge to the stapes (stirrup). The incus is shaped and aligned to transfer and slightly amplify the force from the malleus to the stapes, which then pushes on the oval window of the inner ear to drive fluid movement and start hearing. The pinna belongs to the outer ear and doesn’t participate in transmitting vibrations between middle-ear bones. So, the second auditory ossicle that transmits vibrations from the malleus to the stapes is the incus.