Final answer:
The auditory ossicles, consisting of the malleus, incus, and stapes, form a lever system in the middle ear that amplifies vibrations from the tympanic membrane and transmits them to the cochlea.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three tiny bones linked into a lever system that amplify vibrations of the tympanic membrane are crucial for our sense of hearing. These bones are known as the auditory ossicles and consist of the malleus (hammer), the incus (anvil), and the stapes (stirrup), which are the smallest bones in the human body and unique to mammals. The process of hearing starts with sound waves entering the ear, causing the tympanic membrane, or eardrum, to vibrate. These vibrations are then transferred to the malleus, which passes them to the incus. The incus, in turn, sends the vibrations to the stapes, and from there, they reach the oval window. The oval window is the membrane that passes the vibrations to the cochlea, a fluid-filled structure in the inner ear, leading to the creation of pressure waves that stimulate tiny hair cells, and ultimately, resulting in the perception of sound.