Final answer:
Sound waves cause the eardrum, or tympanic membrane, to vibrate. These vibrations are then transferred through the middle ear bones (malleus, incus, stapes) and become pressure waves in the cochlea, which ultimately leads to auditory perception.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sound waves enter and travel through the auditory canal to the eardrum (also known as tympanic membrane), which will start to vibrate. The eardrum is a thin membrane that vibrates when sound waves strike it. From there, the vibrations are passed through the three tiny bones in the middle ear:
the malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), and stapes (stirrup). The stapes transfers the vibrations to the oval window, a membrane similar to the eardrum. Finally, these vibrations cause pressure waves in the liquid of the cochlea, leading to the bending of hair cells that translate these mechanical movements into electrical signals sent to the brain.