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stapes

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sta⋅pes

  [stey-peez]
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–noun, plural sta⋅pes, sta⋅pe⋅des  [stuh-pee-deez] . Anatomy.
the innermost, stirrup-shaped bone of a chain of three small bones in the middle ear of humans and other mammals, involved in the conduction of sound vibrations to the inner ear. Also called stirrup. Compare incus (def. 1), malleus.

Origin:
1660–70; < NL stapēs, ML: stirrup, perh. etymologizing alter. of It staffa stirrup (< Gmc) by assoc. with L stāre to stand, and pēs, s. ped- foot

Related forms:
sta⋅pe⋅di⋅al  [stuh-pee-dee-uhl] , adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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sta·pes   (stā'pēz)   
n.   pl. stapes or sta·pe·des (stā'pĭ-dēz')
The innermost of the three small bones of the middle ear, shaped somewhat like a stirrup. Also called stirrup.

[New Latin stapēs, stapēd-, from Medieval Latin, stirrup.]
sta·pe'di·al (stā-pē'dē-əl) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

stapes 
"stirrup bone in the middle ear," 1670, Mod.L. (1564), special use of M.L. stapes "stirrup," probably an alteration of L.L. stapia, related to stare "to stand" + pedem "foot." So called because the bone is shaped like a stirrup. This was an invented M.L. word for "stirrup," for which there was no classical L. word, as the ancients did not use stirrups.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: sta·pes
Pronunciation: 'stA-(")pEz
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural stapes or sta·pe·des /st&-'pE-"dEz/
: the innermost of the chain of three ossicles in the middle ear of a mammal having the form of a stirrup, a base occupying the oval window of the tympanum,and a head connected with the incus called also stirrup
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

stapes sta·pes (stā'pēz)
n. pl. stapes or sta·pe·des (stā'pĭ-dēz')
The smallest of the three auditory ossicles, whose base fits into the oval window and whose head is articulated with the lenticular process of the long limb of the incus. Also called stirrup.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
stapes   (stā'pēz)  Pronunciation Key 
Plural stapes or stapedes (stā'pĭ-dēz')
The roughly stirrup-shaped bone that is the innermost of the three small bones (ossicles) of the middle ear.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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