stirrup bone

noun

1. the nontechnical name for stapes

Word History and Origins

Origin of stirrup bone¹

C17: so called because of its stirrup-like shape

Example Sentences

Scientific discoverers have often claimed the right to name their discoveries, in imitation of the discoverers of new lands—Ingrassia named the stirrup bone, Galileo named the moons of Jupiter the Medicean planets, and Lavoisier named oxygen.

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The round head is connected with the anvil by a movable joint, while the long projection of the anvil is similarly connected with the stirrup bone.

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Now the vibrations of the tympanic membrane are passed along the chain of bones attached to its inner surface and reach the stirrup bone.

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It is on the inner side of the oval window, which was closed, as we have seen, by the stirrup bone.

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