What are the small bones in the middle ear that amplify and transmit sound called?

The small bones in the middle ear that play a crucial role in hearing are known as ossicles. These three tiny bones—the malleus, incus, and stapes—work together to amplify and transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear. When sound waves hit the eardrum, it vibrates, and these vibrations are transferred through the ossicles, greatly enhancing the sound energy before it reaches the cochlea. This amplification is essential for our ability to hear a wide range of sounds.

The other terms provided refer to different structures. The mandibles are the lower jawbones, while the cochlea is a spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear involved in converting sound vibrations into neural signals. The incus, while correct in its role as one of the ossicles, does not encompass the function of all three ossicles as a group. Therefore, the term ossicles accurately describes the collective function and significance of these small bones in sound transmission.