Final answer:
The root word for eardrum is 'tympanic', referring to the tympanum or the cavity of the middle ear. It vibrates when sound waves enter the external ear, passing through the auditory canal, and then is involved in transmitting the sound to the inner ear via ossicles.
Step-by-step explanation:
The root word for the eardrum is tympanic. The term 'tympanic membrane' is the technical name for the eardrum, with 'tympanic' referring to the tympanum, which is the cavity of the middle ear. This membrane vibrates in response to sound waves. The process of hearing, also known as audition, begins when sound waves enter the external ear, travel through the ear canal, and strike the tympanic membrane. The vibrations from the tympanic membrane are then transmitted through the ossicles of the middle ear, which are the malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), and stapes (stirrup). These tiny bones amplify the sound and send it to the inner ear for further processing and eventual translation into neural signals.