Hearing is the physiological process by which mechanical sound waves are detected and converted into electrical nerve impulses. Sound vibrations enter the outer ear and cause the vibration of the tympanic membrane. These vibrations are mechanically transferred and amplified by the bones of the middle ear, transmitting the energy to the fluid-filled cochlea within the inner ear. Inside the cochlea, specialized sensory receptors detect the movement of fluid, which corresponds to specific sound frequencies and intensities. This detection mechanism generates electrical signals that travel along the auditory nerve pathway to the brain, where complex processing allows for the perception and interpretation of sound.