How Do You Spell STAPES?

Pronunciation: [stˈe͡ɪps] (IPA)

Stapes is a medical term that refers to the smallest bone in the human body, also commonly known as the stirrup. It is pronounced /ˈsteɪpiːz/ with a long "a" sound in the first syllable and a silent "s" at the end. The IPA phonetic transcription breaks down each sound in the word, including the stressed second syllable "pee" and the final "z" sound that is often silent in English. Proper spelling is important in medical terminology to avoid confusion and ensure accurate communication between healthcare professionals.

STAPES Meaning and Definition

1. The stapes is a bone located in the middle ear of humans and most mammals, commonly referred to as the stirrup bone. It is the smallest and lightest bone in the human body, resembling a stirrup, hence its name. This bone plays a crucial role in the hearing process, specifically in the transmission of sound vibrations from the outer ear to the inner ear.

   Together with the other two tiny bones, the malleus (hammer) and incus (anvil), the stapes completes the ossicles chain. These three bones form a crucial part of the auditory system and are responsible for amplifying sound waves. The stapes attaches to the oval window, a membrane-covered opening to the inner ear, which connects to the cochlea, a spiral-shaped structure crucial for hearing.

   During the hearing process, sound waves enter the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted to the malleus, which moves the incus bone. Finally, the stapes moves in response to the incus, generating pressure waves that travel through the fluid in the cochlea, stimulating hair cells responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals sent to the brain.

   In summary, the stapes is a small bone in the middle ear that plays a crucial role in transmitting sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear, contributing to the process of hearing.

2. Stirrup (so named from its shape), the smallest of the three auditory ossicles; its base, or footpiece, fits into the vestibular or oval window, while its head is articulated with the lenticular process of the long limb of the incus.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for STAPES

• atapes
• ztapes
• xtapes
• dtapes
• etapes
• wtapes
• sfapes
• sgapes
• syapes
• s6apes
• s5apes
• stzpes
• stspes
• stwpes
• stqpes
• sta-es
• sta0es
• stapws
• stapss
• stapds

Etymology of STAPES

The word "stapes" comes from Latin, where it means "stirrup". It is derived from the Latin word "stapes", which originally referred to a part of the bridle used to hold the bit in a horse's mouth. This term was later applied to the stirrup-shaped bone of the ear due to its resemblance to a stirrup. The Latin word "stapes" itself is derived from "stapia", which means "prop, support".

Similar spelling words for STAPES

• stepwise,
• steeves,
• stops,
• steveson,
• stopes,
• steffes,
• stepson,
• stop sign,
• stypsis,
• stoppage,
• stupka,
• steps,
• steves.

Plural form of STAPES is STAPES