How is sound primarily transmitted to the inner ear?

Sound is primarily transmitted to the inner ear via the vibration of the tympanic membrane, also known as the eardrum. When sound waves enter the auditory canal, they ultimately reach the tympanic membrane, causing it to vibrate in response to these sound waves. These vibrations are then transferred to the three small bones in the middle ear (the malleus, incus, and stapes), which amplify the sound and transmit it further into the inner ear.

This pathway is critical for proper hearing because if the tympanic membrane does not vibrate effectively, the transfer of sound to the inner ear can be compromised. Once the vibrations reach the stapes, they are then transmitted into the fluid-filled cochlea, but the initial transmission to the inner ear starts with the vibrations at the tympanic membrane. Other mechanisms, such as the Eustachian tube, mainly function to equalize pressure in the middle ear, while the cochlea's fluid is involved in the processing of sound but not in the primary transmission of sound itself.