Which bone is known as the stirrup in the human ear?

The stapes, commonly referred to as the stirrup, is one of the three tiny bones in the middle ear, known collectively as the ossicles. These three bones—stapes, incus (anvil), and malleus (hammer)—play a crucial role in the process of hearing. The stapes is shaped like a stirrup, hence its nickname, and it is the smallest bone in the human body. It connects to the oval window of the cochlea, which leads to the inner ear. When sound waves enter the ear, they cause the eardrum to vibrate, which in turn causes the ossicles to move. The stapes transmits these vibrations from the incus to the inner ear, amplifying the sound and allowing it to be converted into neural signals for the brain to interpret. Understanding the function of the stapes is essential for grasping the mechanics of hearing.