TOPOGRAPHICAL ANATOMY OF THE EAR. 157 



The small bones of the ear are three in number ; * the 

 incus, the malleus, and the stapes, forming a chain, connected 

 together by ligaments (Fig. 11). These bones are situated 

 in the upper part of the tympanic cavity. The handle of 

 the malleus (A, 2, Fig. 11) is closely attached to the mem- 



FIG. 12. 



The right temporal bone, the petrosal portion removed, showing the ossicles seen from within. 

 4, the incus, the short process of which is directed nearly in an horizontal direction back- 

 ward ; 5, the long process of the incus, free in the tympanic cavity, articulated with the 

 stapes ; 6, the malleus, articulated with the incus ; 7, the long process of the malleus in 

 the Glassorian fissure ; S, the stipes, articulated with the incus. This is drawn somewhat 

 outward, otherwise, the base of the stapes alone would be visible. (KUDINGER, Atlas de# 

 Qeh&rga&et, Munchen, 1S<>7. Lieferung ii., Tafel ii.) This figure shows the handle of the 

 malleus attached to the nieuibrana tyrnpani. 



brana tympani, and the long process (A, 3, Fig. 11) is at- 

 tached to the Glasserian fissure of the temporal bone. The 

 malleus is articulated with the incus. The incus (B, Fig. 11) 

 is connected with the posterior wall of the tympanic cavity, 

 near the openings of the mastoid cells. It is articulated 



1 In addition to the three bones ordinarily enumerated, Sappey, in the last 

 edition of his work on anatomy, describes a very small bone, the lenticular 

 bone, situated between the malleus and the stapes ; but this is usually con- 

 solidated with the malleus, though it is sometimes united with the stapes, and 

 is sometimes distinct. (SAPPEY, Traite cTanatomie, Paris, 1871, tome iii., p. 

 811.) 



