What is another word for stirrup-bone?
Pronunciation: [stˈɪɹʌpbˈə͡ʊn] (IPA) 
The stirrup-bone is also known as the stapes. It is one of the three tiny bones found in the middle ear of mammals and helps in transmitting sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear. The word stirrup-bone is used because of its resemblance to the stirrup of a horse's saddle. Other synonyms for stirrup-bone include stapes bone, stirrup bone of the ear, and ossicle bone. The stapes bone is the smallest bone in the human body, about the size of a rice grain. It is a delicate bone that is essential for normal hearing and any damage to it can lead to hearing loss.
