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ossicles

pl. n. any small bones, but particularly the auditory ossicles: the chain of three tiny bones in the middle ear that transmit sound vibrations from the tympanic membrane (eardrum) to the oval window of the inner ear. They are the malleus (or hammer), which is attached to the tympanic membrane; the incus (or anvil); and the stapes (or stirrup), whose footplate nearly fills the oval window. The ossicles allow efficient transmission of sound from air to the fluid-filled cochlea.

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Psychology term of the day

January 19th 2025

herpetic neuralgia

herpetic neuralgia

pain associated with shingles, caused by reactivation of the herpes varicella-zoster virus (see herpes infection). Following an attack of chicken pox, the virus lies dormant in a dorsal nerve root and ganglion of the spinal cord; when reactivated, it spreads down the sensory nerve, causing vesicle formation and severe, burning, lancinating pain. This acute pain typically resolves in 3 to 5 weeks, but patients often develop the chronic, debilitating pain known as postherpetic neuralgia.