stapedius

sta·pe·di·us

noun \stə-ˈpē-dē-əs\

plural -dii \-dē-ˌī\

Definition of STAPEDIUS

: a small muscle of the middle ear that arises from the wall of the tympanum, is inserted into the neck of the stapes by a tendon that sometimes contains a slender spine of bone, and serves to check and dampen vibration of the stapes—called also stapedius muscle