Final answer:
Ear ossicles are the tiniest bones located in the middle ear, comprising the malleus, incus, and stapes, and are integral for the process of hearing in mammals.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ear ossicles are tiny bones located in the middle ear. These three bones are named the malleus (or hammer), incus (or anvil), and stapes (or stirrup). They play a crucial role in hearing by transmitting sounds from the air as vibrations to the fluid-filled cochlea. Unique to mammals, these are the smallest bones in the human body. The malleus and incus are evolutionary derived from the bones of the jaw and skull in reptiles, making the mammalian auditory system distinct. The ear itself is divided into the outer ear (which includes the pinna, auditory canal, and tympanic membrane), the middle ear (housing the ossicles), and the inner ear (which contains the cochlea and semi-circular canals responsible for balance and hearing).
The ear is divided into multiple sections. The outer ear includes the pinna, auditory canal, and tympanic membrane. The middle ear contains three tiny bones known as the ossicles: the malleus, incus, and stapes. The inner ear consists of the cochlea and semi-circular canals.