The mechanism of hearing involves the following steps:
$1$. The external ear receives sound waves and directs them to the tympanic membrane (eardrum).
$2$. The tympanic membrane vibrates in response to the sound waves and these vibrations are transmitted through the ear ossicles (malleus,incus,and stapes) to the oval window.
$3$. The vibrations are passed through the oval window to the fluid-filled cochlea,where they generate waves in the lymphs.
$4$. These waves induce a ripple in the basilar membrane,which causes the hair cells to bend against the tectorial membrane.
$5$. This bending of hair cells generates nerve impulses in the associated afferent neurons.
$6$. These impulses are transmitted via the auditory nerve to the auditory cortex of the brain,where the sound is analyzed and recognized.