• Question: What is the smallest bone in our body

    Asked by Louis Baird 10 to Pip on 14 Nov 2016.
    • Photo: Pip Millington

      Pip Millington answered on 14 Nov 2016:

      It’s the stapes (Latin for stirrup). It’s one of three small bones in the middle ear which are responsible for transmitting the vibrations from the ear drum to the inner ear where they are converted into nerve impulses to the hearing part of the brain.
      It’s only about 3mm long!

      Here’s a picture by Wikipedia user Welleschik compared to a 10 Euro cent coin:

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