Stapes
Last revised by Daniel J Bell on 25 Aug 2022
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Gaillard F, Bell D, Deng F, et al. Stapes. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 02 Dec 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-2084
Permalink:
rID:
2084
Article created:
2 May 2008, Frank Gaillard ◈
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Frank Gaillard had no recorded disclosures.
View Frank Gaillard's current disclosuresLast revised:
25 Aug 2022, Daniel J Bell ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Daniel J Bell's current disclosuresRevisions:
16 times, by 10 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Stapes superstructure
- Neck of the stapes
- Hub of the stapes
- Base of the stapes
- Footplate of the stapes
- Foot piece of the stapes
- Crura of the stapes
- Capitulum of the stapes
- Head of the stapes
- Stirrup
The stapes (plural: stapedes) is the smallest and most medial of the three middle ear ossicles. It is the smallest bone in the standard human skeleton.
It has a base (foot piece/footplate) that articulates with the oval window and conducts vibrations to the cochlea. The base is attached to the neck via anterior and posterior arches (also called the anterior and posterior crura). On top of the neck (or hub) is a concave head (also known as the capitulum) which articulates with the lenticular process of the incus. The combination of the capitulum, neck, and crura is collectively referred to as the stapes superstructure (less commonly, and less correctly, suprastructure).
The stapes has a number of attachments:
- incudostapedial joint (synovial joint)
- annular ligament around the oval window, forming the stapediovestibular joint
- stapedius (muscle attaches to the back of the neck of the stapes)
History and etymology
"Stapes" is Latin for stirrup.
References
- 1. Sinnatamby CS. Last's Anatomy, Regional and Applied. Churchill Livingstone. (2011) ISBN:0702033944. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Moore K, Lww P. Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 6th Ed. + Anatomy: a Regional Atlas of the Human Body, North American Edition. (2010) ISBN:1451107633. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
Incoming Links
Articles:
- Annular ligament (disambiguation)
- External auditory canal atresia
- Oval window
- Congenital ossicular anomalies
- Vestibule (ear)
- Branchial apparatus
- Pyramidal process
- Axial skeleton
- Incus
- Otosclerosis
- Michel aplasia
- Middle ear
- Mesotympanum
- Stapes prosthesis
- Stapediovestibular joint
- Crus (disambiguation)
- Stapedius muscle
- Persistent stapedial artery
- Middle ear ossicles
- Chronic otomastoiditis with tympanosclerosis
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