The middle ear is the portion of the ear medial to the eardrum, and distal to the oval window of the cochlea.
The middle ear matches mechanical impedance, like a lever.
1871 Descent F937.1 fig 03
The stapes or stirrup is a bone in the middle ear of humans and other tetrapods which is involved in the conduction of sound vibrations to the inner ear. This bone is connected to the oval window by i
The size of the stapes, compared with a 10-cent euro coin.
The stapes, as first described by Giovanni Filippo Ingrassia (Labeled M, bottom right).