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Multiple Choice
During hearing, which of the following is the first to vibrate when sound waves enter the ear?
A
Cochlea
B
Oval window
C
Stapes (stirrup)
D
Tympanic membrane (eardrum)
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the anatomy of the ear and the pathway of sound waves. Sound waves enter the ear through the external auditory canal and first encounter the tympanic membrane (eardrum). This membrane is responsible for converting sound waves into mechanical vibrations.
Step 2: Recognize the role of the tympanic membrane. The tympanic membrane vibrates in response to sound waves, initiating the process of mechanical vibration transmission through the middle ear.
Step 3: Identify the sequence of structures involved in hearing. After the tympanic membrane vibrates, the vibrations are transmitted to the ossicles (malleus, incus, and stapes) in the middle ear.
Step 4: Note the role of the stapes and oval window. The stapes (stirrup) vibrates and transmits the vibrations to the oval window, which leads to the cochlea in the inner ear.
Step 5: Clarify why the tympanic membrane is the first to vibrate. The tympanic membrane is the initial structure that interacts with sound waves, making it the first to vibrate in the hearing process.