Answer:
1) Sound waves move down the auditory canal toward the eardrum
2) Sound waves cause the eardrum and middle ear bones to vibrate
3) Vibrations are conveyed to the endolymph inside the cochlea, causing the cochlear hair cells to bend
4) Bending of the cochlear hair cells causes ion channels to open, which causes neurotransmitters to be released, which results in activation of the auditory nerve, which sends signals to the brain for processing