| Malleus | |
|---|---|
 Left malleus. A. From behind. B. From within. | |
 The right membrana tympani with the hammer and the chorda tympani, viewed from within, from behind, and from above (malleus visible at center) | |
| Details | |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmæliəs/ |
| Precursor | First branchial arch |
| Part of | Middle ear |
| System | Auditory system |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | malleus |
| MeSH | D008307 |
| TA98 | A15.3.02.043 |
| TA2 | 881 |
| FMA | 52753 |
| Anatomical terms of bone | |
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| This article is one of a series documenting the anatomy of the |
| Human 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).