The sequence of auditory ossicles in the middle ear, starting at the tympanic membrane and ending at the oval window, is as follows:
1. Malleus (hammer): The malleus is attached to the tympanic membrane and receives vibrations from it.
2. Incus (anvil): The incus is connected to the malleus and transfers the vibrations to the stapes.
3. Stapes (stirrup): The stapes is the smallest bone in the human body and it transmits the vibrations from the incus to the oval window.
The oval window is a membrane-covered opening that separates the middle ear from the inner ear. When the stapes vibrates against the oval window, it creates pressure waves within the inner ear, which stimulate the hair cells of the cochlea and generate nerve impulses that are transmitted to the brain, where they are perceived as sound.