middle ear

noun

, Anatomy.

1. the middle portion of the ear, consisting of the tympanic membrane and an air-filled chamber lined with mucous membrane, that contains the malleus, incus, and stapes.

middle ear

noun

1. the sound-conducting part of the ear, containing the malleus, incus, and stapes

middle ear

/ mĭd′l /

1. The part of the ear in most mammals that contains the eardrum (tympanic membrane) and the three ossicles (malleus, incus, and stapes) which transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear.
2. See more at ear

middle ear

1. A part of the ear on the inner side of the eardrum ; it contains three small bones that transmit sound waves to the inner ear from the eardrum.

Word History and Origins

Origin of middle ear¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

One of the bones around the spiracles of early vertebrates eventually became the stapes in the middle ear of humans and other present-day animals.

From Popular-Science

The staphylococcus, bacillus of Friedlnder, colon bacillus, and Bacillus pyocyaneus may be met in chronic middle-ear disease.

From Project Gutenberg

Hearing defects usually arise from catarrhal trouble in the middle ear.

From Project Gutenberg

They are nearly all due to catarrhal infection of the middle ear through  the Eustachian tube.

From Project Gutenberg

The middle ear contains three bones that convey the vibrations of the tympanum to the internal ear.

From Project Gutenberg

In either sex arrested development of the face, middle ear, and palate often coexists with these supernumerary breasts.

From Project Gutenberg