In an adult human, how many bones are present as ear ossicles?a)4b)6c)...
Six ear ossicles are present, three in each ear. They are malleus, incus and stapes.
In an adult human, how many bones are present as ear ossicles?a)4b)6c)...
The correct answer is option 'B' - 6 bones.
Explanation:
The ear ossicles, also known as the auditory ossicles or simply ossicles, are a group of three small bones located in the middle ear. These bones are responsible for transmitting sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear. The three ossicles are named as follows:
1. Malleus (Hammer): The malleus is the outermost bone of the three and is attached to the eardrum. It is shaped like a hammer, hence the name.
2. Incus (Anvil): The incus is the middle bone and connects the malleus to the stapes. It is shaped like an anvil.
3. Stapes (Stirrup): The stapes is the innermost bone and is connected to the incus. It is the smallest bone in the human body and is shaped like a stirrup.
These three bones work together to amplify and transmit sound vibrations through the middle ear, allowing us to hear. They form a chain-like structure, with the malleus connected to the eardrum, the incus in the middle, and the stapes connected to the oval window of the inner ear. The ossicles act as a lever system, increasing the force of the sound vibrations as they travel from the relatively large eardrum to the smaller oval window.
In addition to the main three ossicles, there are also three tiny ligaments associated with them:
1. Anterior malleolar ligament: Connects the malleus to the wall of the middle ear.
2. Superior malleolar ligament: Connects the malleus to the roof of the middle ear.
3. Posterior incudal ligament: Connects the incus to the wall of the middle ear.
These ligaments help stabilize and support the ossicles during sound transmission.
Therefore, in an adult human, there are a total of six bones present as ear ossicles - the malleus, incus, and stapes, along with the three associated ligaments.