stapedius

noun

sta·​pe·​di·​us stə-ˈpē-dē-əs How to pronounce stapedius (audio)
plural stapedii -dē-ˌī How to pronounce stapedius (audio)
: 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

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Cite this Entry

“Stapedius.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/stapedius. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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