Which part of the ear transmits mechanical energy of sound waves?

The middle ear is responsible for transmitting the mechanical energy of sound waves. It serves as a crucial connector between the outer ear and the inner ear. When sound waves travel through the outer ear and reach the eardrum, they cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted through three small bones, known as the ossicles (the malleus, incus, and stapes), which amplify the sound. The stapes, the final ossicle, connects to the oval window of the cochlea in the inner ear, helping to convert the mechanical vibrations into fluid waves within the cochlea.

In contrast, the outer ear primarily functions to collect sound waves and direct them toward the middle ear, while the inner ear, particularly structures like the cochlea, plays a critical role in converting mechanical energy into neural signals for the brain to interpret sound.