Three small bones connect the tympanic membrane to the oval window. What is the function of these bones?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The three small bones, known as the ossicles, serve to amplify the vibrations of the tympanic membrane and convert the airwaves into waves of greater pressure that can be conducted through the inner ear. This process is necessary because the fluids of the inner ear have a much higher resistance to motion than do the air molecules that create sound waves. Thus, the ossicles act as a mechanical transformer that allows sound waves to be transmitted efficiently from the middle ear to the inner ear.

Three Small Bones Connect the Tympanic Membrane to the Oval