Question

The cavity is spanned by three small bones, collectively called the auditory ____ and include the ____, ____, and stapes?

1) ear bones, malleus, incus, and stapes
2) ear bones, cochlea, and stapes
3) ear bones, malleus, incus, and cochlea
4) ear bones, malleus, and incus

Answer 1

The correct answer is option 1: ear bones, malleus, incus, and stapes, collectively called auditory ossicles.

Step-by-step explanation:

The cavity is spanned by three small bones, collectively called the auditory ossicles, and they include the malleus, incus, and stapes. These tiny bones are located in the middle ear and are vital for transmitting sounds from the air as vibrations to the fluid-filled cochlea.

They are named for their shapes that resemble tools or objects: the malleus (hammer), the incus (anvil), and the stapes (stirrup). These bones are unique to mammals and play a crucial role in our ability to hear, functioning to collect and amplify sounds. The correct answer to the given question is option 1) ear bones, malleus, incus, and stapes.