The small bones that connect the eardrum to the inner ear are collectively known as what?

• A. The outer ear cartilage
• B. The nerve that carries sound to the brain
• C. Auditory ossicle
• D. A bone in the jaw

Answer: (C)

How the middle ear transmits sound from the eardrum to the inner ear is being tested. The tiny bones in the middle ear—the hammer, anvil, and stirrup—form a chain known collectively as the auditory ossicles. When the eardrum vibrates, these bones move in sequence, passing the motion to the oval window of the inner ear. This lever-like system boosts the sound’s pressure so it can move the fluid in the inner ear efficiently. The other options aren’t involved in this transmission: outer ear cartilage is part of the external ear, a nerve carries signals to the brain, and a jaw bone is unrelated. So the correct term for these bones as a group is the auditory ossicles.