Final answer:
The ossicles serve to conduct the sound energy to the inner ear as well as amplify it (Option B).
Step-by-step explanation:
The ossicles of the middle ear serve to conduct the sound energy to the inner ear as well as amplify it. The ossicles, comprised of the malleus, incus, and stapes, conduct and amplify the sound energy from the tympanic membrane to the cochlea in the inner ear.
The three ossicles, which include the malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), and stapes (stirrup), are small bones located in the middle ear that are essential for hearing. They transmit sound from the tympanic membrane (ear drum) to the oval window of the cochlea, amplifying the sound in the process. This amplification is necessary as the energy is being transferred from the air, which is less dense, to the fluid of the inner ear, which is more dense, thus requiring an increase in the sound energy's force to effectively stimulate the sensory cells for hearing.
Thus, the correct option is B.