The Incus (Anvil) Bone: Function in Hearing
The incus (anvil) is one of three tiny middle ear bones (malleus, incus, stapes). It bridges the malleus and stapes, transmitting sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear.
Hearing Pathway
- Sound waves hit eardrum → vibration.
- Malleus (attached to eardrum) vibrates.
- Incus receives and transmits vibration to stapes.
- Stapes vibrates against oval window → cochlear fluid waves.
- Hair cells convert waves to electrical signals → brain.
The incus amplifies and relays vibrations, essential for converting sound into neural signals.
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