Ossicles of the middle ear

Fused bone of Mallus and Incus (middle ear bones) of a chinchilla

The head of the malleaus is attached to the tympanic membrane (eardrum). The incus attaches to the head of the stapes which normally sits in the oval window of the cochlea.

Image of the stapes taken from the middle ear of a chinchilla

The smallest bone in the body is the stapes (stirrup). The head of the stapes connects to the incus and the footplate rest within the oval window of the cochlea.

Stapedial muscle from the middle ear of a chinchilla

In the left photo the incus has been disconnected from the head of the stapes revealing the stapedius muscle.

Scanning Electron Microscope image of the turns in a cochlea.

The bony wall of the chinchilla cochlea has been cut away revealing the fluid filled spiral chambers within. The last of the three ossicular bones, the stapes, fills the oval window of the cochlea.