Real Human Inner Ear Ossicles

We believe education is the greatest gift osteology can share and that every human specimen can contribute to the advancement of science. These specimens are provided to us by retired physicians, medical researchers, dental professionals, and former university medical programs. We also work with accredited donor programs. A small sample - often antiques that simply do not qualify for medical/research grade usage - are made available to osteology enthusiasts worldwide so that they may continue to educate and inform.

The middle ear houses three tiny bones called ossicles: the malleus, incus, and stapes. These bones are named after their distinct shapes, derived from Latin: malleus means "hammer," incus means "anvil," and stapes means "stirrup." They form a chain that transmits sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear's cochlea, amplifying and refining sound before it reaches the brain.

• The photos shown are examples of what your specimen will approximately look like. Each ossicle is unique and will vary slightly in size, shape, color, etc.