The ear is a complex organ responsible for hearing and balance. It's divided into three sections: the outer, middle, and inner ear. Sound waves are collected by the outer ear, amplified and transmitted through the middle ear, and then converted into electrical signals in the inner ear before being sent to the brain.
The smallest bone in the human body is the stapes, also known as the stirrup, located in the middle ear. It's part of a set of three tiny bones called the ossicles, which also include the malleus (hammer) and incus (anvil). The stapes is the body's smallest bone! Sometimes called the stirrup, this delicate bone works with two others in the ear to send sound vibrations into the inner ear.