Themalleusis a hammer-shaped bone in the middle ear.
(Malleus in Latin means “hammer.")
The malleus is located between the incus bone and the eardrum.
Conditions that affect the malleus often impact the ability to hear.
The ossicles are part of the auditory system and are the smallest bones in the human body.
The auditory ossicles are suspended in the middle ear by ligaments.
The malleus is shaped like a hammer.
It sits in the middle ear between the incus and theeardrum.
What Is the Function of the Malleus?
Theossicle bones sensory roleis hearing.
The bones work together to transmit sound waves from the outerearto the inner ear.
Hearing loss is the primary symptom of otosclerosis, which usually comes on gradually.Tinnitusand dizziness can also occur.
Acomputed tomography(CT scan) to view the ossicle bones may confirm the diagnosis.
Ossicular Chain Dislocation
Dislocation of the bone can occur following trauma.
Symptoms of dislocation include:
Dislocation of the ossicle bones is usually diagnosed by a CT scan.
Tympanometry and audiography can help determine the extent of hearing loss.
Cholesteatoma
Cholesteatomais a noncancerous abnormal skin growth in the middle ear.
It can erode the ossicles.
Your healthcare provider may also order a CT scan so you can see the situation more clearly.
It may be associated with other congenital anomalies and is one of the most difficult to correct.
Malformations of the ossicles include hypoplasia (under-development) or displacement.
Treatment
Treatment for conditions affecting the malleus often, but not always, involves surgery.
They are a non-surgical treatment option for atresia.
They can be surgically implanted or used with a softband (like a headband).
Recent technical advances have improved these devices and studies have shown them to provide good hearing outcomes.
so that be most successful, they need to be placed as early as possible.
It is sometimes also called the hammer due to its hammer shape.
Medical conditions that affect the malleus often cause problems with hearing.
These conditions are often treated surgically, though they may also be treated with devices such as hearing aids.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.How the ear works.
2020;24(4):161-166. doi:10.7874/jao.2020.00325
