Stapedius muscle

Last revised by Craig Hacking on 16 Feb 2024

The stapedius muscle is the tiny slender muscle in the middle ear that attaches to the stapes, which dampens excessive sound vibrations passed to the cochlea via the oval window

Gross anatomy

The muscle is anchored within the petrous temporal bone. Its tendon emerges anteriorly from the hollow of the conical pyramidal process to enter the mesotympanum. It courses anteriorly to attach to the posterior aspect of the neck of the stapes.

Blood supply

The stapedius is supplied by multiple small branches from the:

Innervation

The muscle is supplied by a small branch from the facial nerve, which arises from the facial canal.

Action

When contracted, stapedius dampens sound oscillations passing through the oval window to the cochlea.  

Related pathology

Paralysis of this muscle leads to a hypersensitivity to loud noises (hyperacusis).

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