Stapes

The stapes, also known as the stirrup, is the smallest bone in the human body, located in the middle ear. It plays a vital role in hearing by transmitting sound vibrations from the middle ear's other small bones (the malleus and incus) to the inner ear. When sound waves hit the eardrum, they cause these bones to vibrate, with the stapes passing these vibrations into the cochlea in the inner ear. This process converts mechanical sound waves into signals that your brain interprets as sound. The stapes is essential for effective hearing and maintaining balance within the ear.