Malleus

Looks like

A tiny hammer-shaped bone attached to the inside of the eardrum.

What it does

Picks up the eardrum's vibration and passes it to the incus.

Keeping it well

Damaged by chronic infection or skin-cyst growth (cholesteatoma); a persistent smelly ear discharge with hearing loss needs a specialist.

Related conditions

• Acromegaly
• Cholesteatoma
• Ear infections (otitis media & externa)
• Earwax blockage
• Fractures
• Fragility fracture
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease)
• Osteomalacia & rickets
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
• Osteoporosis
• Otosclerosis
• Paget's disease of bone
• Sarcoma
• Vitamin B1, C and other deficiencies
• Vitamin D deficiency