Malleus

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the ossicle. For other uses, see Malleus (disambiguation).
Malleus
membrana tympani with the hammer and the chorda tympani, viewed from within, from behind, and from above (malleus visible at center)
Details
Pronunciation/ˈmæliəs/
Precursorfirst branchial arch
Part ofMiddle ear
SystemAuditory system
Identifiers
Latinmalleus
MeSHD008307
TA98A15.3.02.043
TA2881
FMA52753
Anatomical terms of bone]
This article is one of a series documenting the anatomy of the
Human ear
Outer ear
Middle ear
Inner ear


The malleus, or hammer, is a hammer-shaped small bone or ossicle of the middle ear. It connects with the incus, and is attached to the inner surface of the eardrum. The word is Latin for 'hammer' or 'mallet'. It transmits the sound vibrations from the eardrum to the incus (anvil).

Structure

See also: Ossicles

The malleus is a bone situated in the middle ear. It is the first of the three

tympanic membrane. The head of the malleus is the large protruding section, which attaches to the incus. The head connects to the neck of malleus. The bone continues as the handle (or manubrium) of malleus, which connects to the tympanic membrane.[1] Between the neck and handle of the malleus, lateral and anterior processes emerge from the bone.[2][3] The bone is oriented so that the head is superior and the handle is inferior.[3]

Development

Embryologically, the malleus is derived from the first pharyngeal arch along with the incus.[3] It grows from Meckel's cartilage.[3]

Function

Main article: Hearing

The malleus is one of three

tympanic membrane (ear drum) to the inner ear. The malleus receives vibrations from the tympanic membrane and transmits this to the incus.[2]

Clinical significance

The malleus may be palpated by surgeons during ear surgery.[1] It may become fixed in place due to surgical complications, causing hearing loss.[1] This may be corrected with further surgery.[1]

History

Several sources attribute the discovery of the malleus to the

Niccolo Massa's Liber introductorius anatomiae[7] described the malleus in slightly more detail and likened both it and the incus to little hammers terming them malleoli.[8]

Other animals

The malleus is unique to mammals, and

articular, which still forms part of the jaw joint in reptiles and birds.[9][10]

Additional images

  • Ossicles
    Ossicles
  • Head and neck of a human embryo eighteen weeks old, with Meckel's cartilage and hyoid bone exposed.
    Head and neck of a human embryo eighteen weeks old, with Meckel's cartilage and hyoid bone exposed.
  • External and middle ear, opened from the front. Right side.
    External and middle ear, opened from the front. Right side.
  • Chain of ossicles and their ligaments, seen from the front in a vertical, transverse section of the tympanum.
    Chain of ossicles and their ligaments, seen from the front in a vertical, transverse section of the tympanum.
  • CT image of malleus
    CT image of malleus
  • Auditory ossicles. Tympanic cavity. Deep dissection.
    Auditory ossicles. Tympanic cavity. Deep dissection.
  • Auditory ossicles. Incus and malleus. Deep dissection.
    Auditory ossicles. Incus and malleus. Deep dissection.

See also

This article uses anatomical terminology.
Look up malleus in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

References

  1. ^
    OCLC 489078311
    .
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-0-8089-2306-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  3. ^
    OCLC 956277358
    .
  4. ^ Alidosi, GNP. I dottori Bolognesi di teologia, filosofia, medicina e d'arti liberali dall'anno 1000 per tutto marzo del 1623, Tebaldini, N., Bologna, 1623. http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k51029z/f35.image#
  5. ^ Lind, L. R. Studies in pre-Vesalian anatomy. Biography, translations, documents, American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, 1975. p.40
  6. ^ Jacopo Berengario da Carpi,Commentaria super anatomia Mundini, Bologna, 1521. https://archive.org/details/ita-bnc-mag-00001056-001
  7. ^ Niccolo Massa, Liber introductorius anatomiae, Venice, 1536. p.166. https://www.digitale-sammlungen.de/en/view/bsb10151904?page=1
  8. ^ O'Malley, C.D. Andreas Vesalius of Brussels, 1514-1564. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1964. p. 120
  9. ISBN 9780688172176
    .
  10. OCLC 1196340700
    .
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