Middle Ear

Middle ear refers to the space between the eardrum and the inner ear, where three tiny bones (also known as ossicles) are located and named based on their shapes: the malleus, meaning hammer, the incus or anvil and the stapes or stirrup. When sound waves vibrate on the surface of the eardrum, the bones transmit those movements to the inner ear. The fluid and surfaces of the inner ear send the vibrations as signals to the auditory nerves and we can then "hear" the sound.