Which structure is referred to as the eardrum?

The structure referred to as the eardrum is the tympanic membrane. This thin, membrane-like barrier is crucial in the auditory system as it separates the outer ear from the middle ear. When sound waves enter the auditory canal, they strike the tympanic membrane, causing it to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted to the ossicles, a group of small bones in the middle ear, which further amplify and transfer the sound waves to the inner ear.

Understanding the role of the tympanic membrane is essential in comprehending how sound is processed in the human body. It is instrumental in converting acoustic energy (sound waves) into mechanical energy (vibrations), which is a fundamental step in hearing. The other structures listed are all important in the auditory system but serve different functions. The auditory canal is a passageway for sound, the ossicles are responsible for amplifying sound vibrations, and the cochlea is involved in decoding the vibrations into neural signals sent to the brain.