plural mallei
ˈma-lē-ˌī 
-lē-ˌē
: the outermost of a chain of three small bones of the mammalian middle ear
called also hammer
see ear illustrationExamples of malleus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
One bone becomes the malleus of the middle ear.
—
David George Haskell, Wired, 8 Mar. 2022
The stapes and malleus are tiny bones that transmit hearing through the inner ear.
—Christopher Linstrom, Discover Magazine, 31 Jan. 2011
Another becomes the incus bone that connects the malleus to the stapes.
—David George Haskell, Wired, 8 Mar. 2022
The smallest bones are inside your ear, and they are known as the hammer (malleus), stirrup (stapes), and anvil (incus).
—Jason Bittel, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2019
The auditory ossicles of the middle ear – the malleus, incus and stapes – are the tiniest bones in the human body.
—Emily Matchar, Smithsonian, 18 Dec. 2017
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David George Haskell, Wired, 8 Mar. 2022
The stapes and malleus are tiny bones that transmit hearing through the inner ear.
—Christopher Linstrom, Discover Magazine, 31 Jan. 2011
Another becomes the incus bone that connects the malleus to the stapes.
—David George Haskell, Wired, 8 Mar. 2022
The smallest bones are inside your ear, and they are known as the hammer (malleus), stirrup (stapes), and anvil (incus).
—Jason Bittel, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2019
The auditory ossicles of the middle ear – the malleus, incus and stapes – are the tiniest bones in the human body.
—Emily Matchar, Smithsonian, 18 Dec. 2017
Dictionary Entries Near malleus
Cite this Entry
“Malleus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malleus. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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Medical Definition
malleus
noun
mal·le·us
ˈmal-ē-əs
: the outermost of the chain of three ossicles in the middle ear of a mammal consisting of a head, neck, short process, long process, and handle with the short process and handle being fastened to the tympanic membrane and the head articulating with the head of the incus
called also hammer
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