Which three regions comprise the auditory system?

The auditory system is composed of three primary components: the external ear, middle ear, and inner ear.

The external ear includes the structures that are visible on the outside, such as the pinna (auricle) and the ear canal, which funnel sound waves toward the tympanic membrane (eardrum).

The middle ear is an air-filled cavity that contains the ossicles (small bones: malleus, incus, and stapes) which amplify and transmit sound vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the inner ear.

The inner ear contains the cochlea, which is responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical impulses that can be interpreted by the brain. This region also includes the vestibular system, which contributes to balance but is not directly involved in hearing.

Understanding these components is crucial for discussions related to hearing processes, disorders, and treatments. Other choices present alternative combinations of auditory system structures but do not accurately encompass all three crucial regions associated with hearing. For instance, the brain is indeed involved in the processing of auditory information but is not part of the peripheral auditory system.