TA A15.3.02.051 | FMA 60065 | |
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Latin Articulatio incudostapedia | ||
Incudostapedial joint or articulatio incudostapedia is a small synovial joint between the incus (anvil) and the stapes (stirrup). The joint's function is to transfer vibrations between the ossicles in the middle ear, which is perceived as sound. Contrary to other synovial joints the moment is very limited and is usually only of springy character. All of the ossicles move as a unit.
The incudostapedial joint lies between the long leg (long crus or crus longum incudis) and the head of the stapes (caput stapedis).
When the eardrum is moved inward due to sound vibrations, transferred through the outer ear, it transmits to the malleus and then to the incus via the incudomalleolar joint. The long leg (long crus or crus longum incudis) moves with the rest of the incus and a small knob, the lenticular process, articulates with the head of the stapes. The stapes then transfers the vibration to oval window.