The stapes is one of the three tiny bones in the middle ear, known as the ossicles. It is shaped like a stirrup and plays a crucial role in hearing by transmitting sound vibrations from the tympanic membrane (eardrum) to the oval window of the inner ear. As the smallest bone in the human body, the stapes measures about 0.1 inches (2.5 mm) in length. It works in conjunction with the other ossicles, the malleus and incus, to amplify sound waves, allowing us to perceive a wide range of sounds.