Which part of the ear changes acoustic energy into mechanical energy?

The middle ear is responsible for converting acoustic energy into mechanical energy. This part of the ear contains the ossicles, which are three small bones known as the malleus, incus, and stapes. When sound waves enter the ear, they first strike the eardrum, causing it to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted to the ossicles, which amplify and convey the mechanical energy to the inner ear.

The middle ear acts as a bridge between the outer ear, where sound waves first enter, and the inner ear, which converts mechanical energy into neural signals that the brain interprets as sound. This transformation process is crucial for effective hearing, as it allows the delicate structures of the inner ear to detect vibrations of the correct amplitude and frequency.