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Glite Dictionary
stapedius

stapedius

1 9.9
A small muscle in the middle ear that keeps a tiny ear bone steady and reduces loud sounds
  • noun
  • /ˌstæpɪˈdiəs/
  • Specialized
: estapedio
  • Surgeons often examine the stapedius muscle during middle ear surgeries for proper functioning.
  • stapedius muscle
  • stapedius reflex
  • stapedius muscle contraction

Examples

  • During surgery for otosclerosis, it is common for the surgeon to cut the stapedius tendon.

    Academic text (1998)

  • We measure the success of stapedius tendon reconstruction with impedance audiometry.

    Academic text (1998)

  • By then, the branch to the stapedius muscle is visible.

    Academic text (2003)

  • In contrast, in humans it appears that only the stapedius muscle contracts in response to acoustic stimuli.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Colletti found that patients heard better in noise when the stapedius tendon was preserved.

    Academic text (1999)

  • We believe our results validate the reconstruction of the stapedius tendon where possible.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Minimal contractions of the stapedius muscle and tendon occur in a person listening with great concentration.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Because of this arrangement, when the stapedius muscle contracts, the footplate is immediately fixed in the oval fossa.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Contraction of the stapedius muscle leads to an increase in the rigidity of the ossicular chain.

    Academic text (1998)

  • The stapedius muscle plays a vital role in controlling sound vibrations in the ear.

Surface Forms

stapedius singular
stapedius plural

Morphology

stapedius = stapes (semi-transparent) = staped + ius

The term is formed by adding a Latin-derived anatomical suffix to the name of the stapes bone, so the relation to 'stapes' is clear but the formation is technical and not fully obvious to general learners.

Etymology

Stapedius comes from the Latin word stapes, meaning 'stirrup', because the tiny bone it moves looks like a stirrup. So the stapedius is the small muscle that steadies that 'stirrup' bone and helps protect the ear from loud sounds.