The stirrup bone, also called the stapes, is a small bone located in the middle ear. It is one of the three bones responsible for transmitting sound waves from the eardrum to the inner ear. The stirrup bone is named after its U-shaped appearance, which resembles the stirrup of a horse's saddle. The medical term for the stirrup bone is stapes, but it is also referred to as the stapedius. Other synonyms for the stirrup bone include the ossicle bone, the auditory ossicle, the ear bone, and the middle ear bone. These terms all refer to the same small bone that plays a crucial role in our ability to hear and enjoy the sounds around us.