Final answer:
The correct sequence is eardrum, cochlea, auditory nerve.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct sequence of structures activated in the ear is:
C) Eardrum, cochlea, auditory nerve
When sound waves enter the ear through the auditory canal, they first hit the eardrum or tympanic membrane. The eardrum then vibrates and transfers these vibrations to the three small bones in the middle ear called the ossicles. One of the ossicles, the stapes, is attached to the cochlea in the inner ear. The cochlea contains tiny hair cells that detect these vibrations and convert them into electrical signals, which are then transmitted to the brain through the auditory nerve.