The middle ear is a small, air-filled space located between the outer ear and the inner ear. It contains three tiny bones called the ossicles—the malleus, incus, and stapes—which help transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear. When sound waves hit the eardrum, it vibrates, causing the ossicles to move and amplify the sound. Additionally, the middle ear is connected to the nasopharynx through the Eustachian tube, which helps equalize pressure on both sides of the eardrum. This pressure balance is essential for proper hearing, as it allows the eardrum to vibrate freely in response to sound waves.