Explanation:
Sound waves enter the outer ear and travel through the ear canal, which leads to the eardrum.
The eardrum vibrates from the incoming sound waves and sends these vibrations to three tiny bones in the middle ear. These bones are called the malleus, incus, and stapes.
The bones in the middle ear amplify the sound vibrations and send them to the cochlea in the inner ear.
Once the vibrations cause the fluid inside the cochlea to ripple, a traveling wave forms along the basilar membrane. Hair cells ride the wave. Hair cells near the wide end of the snail-shaped cochlea detect higher-pitched/frequency sounds, such as an infant crying. Those closer to the center detect lower-pitched sounds, such as a large dog barking.
The auditory nerve carries this electrical signal to the brain, which turns it into a sound that we recognize and understand.
