Which of the following correctly lists the structures, in order, that are responsible for hearing, starting with the arrival of a sound wave?

• A. Tympanic membrane → cochlea → ossicles → auditory nerve
• B. Ossicles → tympanic membrane → cochlea → auditory nerve
• C. Cochlea → tympanic membrane → ossicles → auditory nerve
• D. Tympanic membrane → ossicles → cochlea → auditory nerve

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Begin by understanding the pathway of sound waves as they travel through the ear. Sound waves first enter the ear canal and strike the tympanic membrane (eardrum), causing it to vibrate.
2. Step 2: The vibrations from the tympanic membrane are transmitted to the ossicles, which are three small bones in the middle ear (malleus, incus, and stapes). These bones amplify the sound vibrations and transfer them to the cochlea.
3. Step 3: The cochlea, a spiral-shaped structure in the inner ear, converts the mechanical vibrations into electrical signals through the movement of hair cells within its fluid-filled chambers.
4. Step 4: The electrical signals generated by the cochlea are then transmitted to the auditory nerve (also known as the cochlear nerve), which carries the signals to the brain for interpretation as sound.
5. Step 5: Review the options provided in the problem and identify the correct sequence based on the pathway described: Tympanic membrane → ossicles → cochlea → auditory nerve.