Final answer:
Sound waves are first gathered by the pinna, funneled through the auditory canal, and then concentrated at the tympanum or eardrum, which begins the process of vibration and transmission through the middle ear bones to the inner ear.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sound waves are collected by the pinna and concentrated at the tympanum, or eardrum. This process is crucial for the reception of sound in mammals. The pinna, being the external part of the ear, functions to funnel sound waves into the auditory canal.
These waves then cause the tympanum to vibrate. Behind the tympanum is the middle ear, which contains three small bones: the malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), and stapes (stirrup). These bones, called ossicles, further amplify the vibrations from the tympanum and transfer the energy to the inner ear. The overall mechanism of sound reception allows us to perceive and interpret sound waves as the information is processed by our auditory system.