ossicle
/ˈɒsɪk(ə)l
/noun
1 Anatomy & Zoology A very small bone, especially one of those in the middle ear.Vibrations of the eardrum are then coupled by the middle ear ossicles, the three smallest bones in the body, to the fluid-filled cochlea....
- Sound waves reaching the tympanic membrane will initiate vibrations that are transmitted through the bony ossicles of the middle ear to the oval window.
- The middle ear ossicles and tympanic membrane remained intact, so sound stimulation could be applied to the preparation through a loudspeaker connected to the external ear canal.
1.1 Zoology A small piece of calcified material forming part of the skeleton of an invertebrate animal such as an echinoderm.Most such particles are echinoderm stem ossicles, brachiopods, bryozoans or other corals....
- The calcitic ossicles of crinoids, as is typical of echinoderms, form an internal skeleton that provides support and protection.
- Calcareous ossicles make up the internal skeleton.
Origin
Late 16th century: from Latin ossiculum, diminutive of os 'bone'.
- prismatic color
- prismatic colour
- prismatic compass
- prismatic layer
- prismatic powder
- prismatise
- prismatize
- prismatoid
- prismatoidal
- prismato-nacreous
- prism binocular
- prismed
- prismic
- prismoid
- prismoidal formula
- prism train
- prismy
- prison
- prison bar
- prison base
- prison-bird
- prison-bound
- prison breach
- prison breaker
- prison breaking