Measuring only about 3 millimeters in length, this tiny… →

The stapes, located in the middle ear, is the smallest bone in the human body. Measuring only about 3 millimeters in length, this tiny, stirrup-shaped bone plays a crucial role in the auditory system. It is one of three auditory ossicles, along with the malleus and incus, that transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear.

The stapes specifically connects to the oval window, a membrane-covered opening to the inner ear, and its movements help convert sound waves into mechanical vibrations that are then translated into neural signals by the cochlea. Despite its small size, the stapes is essential for proper hearing function.