Final answer:
The 'big flippy ear part' on either side of the head known as the pinna collects sound waves and channels them to the ear ossicles (malleus, incus, and stapes) in the middle ear, which amplify and transmit these vibrations to the cochlea via the oval window.
Step-by-step explanation:
The oval shaped, fibrocartilaginous, sound-collecting organ described in the question refers to the outer ear, specifically the pinna or auricle, which is the part of the ear that can be seen on the sides of the head. Sound waves are collected by the pinna and directed through the auditory canal, causing vibrations in the tympanic membrane, also known as the eardrum. The middle ear contains the ear ossicles (malleus, incus, and stapes), which amplify these vibrations and transmit them to the oval window. The oval window then transfers these vibrations to the inner ear, where they move through a fluid-filled tube within the cochlea, eventually being translated into nerve impulses that the brain interprets as sound.
Humans and mammals have a unique hearing mechanism involving these small bones. The malleus connects to the tympanic membrane, the incus connects the malleus to the stapes, and the stapes interacts with the oval window to conduct sound. The auditory ossicles are believed to have evolved from bones used to support gill in fish, demonstrating an evolutionary adaptation for vertebrate hearing.