Middle ear. False-colour scanning electron micrograph of the stapes, one of the three tiny bones found in the middle ear: the other two are the malleus and the incus. They are interconnected and link the tympanic membrane (eardrum) to the inner ear structure. The sound vibrations which strike the eardrum are transmitted and amplified by the bones in the middle ear to the complex system in the inner ear. Here, specialised ciliated neurone cells, convert the mechanical energy of the sound waves into electrical impulses which are transmitted to the brain for their analysis. Magnification: x15 at 6x7cm size. x25 at 4x5"~LANDSCAPE"