Which part of the ear is responsible for conducting air sound waves into fluid-membrane waves?

The middle ear plays a crucial role in converting air sound waves into fluid-membrane waves. It contains the ossicles, which are three tiny bones known as the malleus, incus, and stapes. These bones amplify and transmit vibrations from the tympanic membrane (eardrum) to the oval window, which is part of the inner ear.

When sound waves enter the outer ear, they travel through the ear canal until they reach the tympanic membrane, causing it to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted to the ossicles in the middle ear, which further amplify the sound. Finally, the stapes connects to the oval window, a membrane-covered opening to the inner ear, transferring the mechanical vibrations into the fluid of the cochlea. This process is essential for converting airborne sound waves into signals that the brain can interpret.

In contrast, the outer ear primarily collects sound waves, while the inner ear, which includes the cochlea, is responsible for hearing and balance but does not directly conduct air sound waves.