Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
ossiculum

ossiculum

9.9
One of the three tiny bones in the middle ear that help you hear
  • noun
  • /ˌɑsɪˈkʌləm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ossículo
  • The three tiny ossicula transmit vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear bones.

Examples

  • A fracture of the ossiculum can result in impaired hearing.

  • During the operation the surgeon carefully examined the ossiculum for signs of infection.

  • The ossiculum is essential for hearing.

  • Did you know the ossicula are the smallest bones in the body?

  • A fracture of the ossiculum can result in impaired hearing.

  • During the operation, the surgeon carefully examined the ossiculum for signs of infection.

  • Did you know the ossicula are the smallest bones in the body?

Synonyms

ossicle
vsossiculum
  • Specialized
9.6

A very small bone in the middle ear that helps send sound to the inner ear

is a slightly less intense word for the same middle ear bones
auditory ossicle
vsossiculum
  • Specialized
7.7

A very small bone in the middle ear that helps carry sound to the inner ear

is the general small bone term without focusing on sound transmission
bonelet
vsossiculum
  • Specialized
9.3

One of three small bones in the middle ear

is used to mean one of the three tiny middle ear bones specifically

Surface Forms

ossiculum singular
ossicula plural

Etymology

Ossiculum comes from the Latin os 'bone' and the ending -culum that makes something small, so it literally means 'little bone'. That's why an ossiculum is one of the very small bones, like the tiny bones in the middle ear. You can see the same root in ossify, which means 'to turn into bone'.