The malleus or hammer is a hammer-shaped small bone or ossicle of the middle ear which connects with the incus and is attached to the inner surface of the eardrum. The word is Latin, and means 'hammer'.

It transmits the sound vibrations from the eardrum to the incus.

The malleus is unique to mammals, and evolved from a lower jaw bone in reptiles called the articular.

See also

• Bone terminology
• Terms for anatomical location

Auditory system | Skeletal system | Skull

Hammer (knogle) | Hammer (Anatomie) | Martillo (hueso) | Hamer (gehoorbeentje) | Młoteczek (anatomia) | Martelo (osso) | Vasaraluu