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. The middle ear also includes the Eustachian tube, which connects to the throat and helps equalize pressure. This part of the ear plays a crucial role in hearing by amplifying sound waves. When sound hits the eardrum, it vibrates, causing the ossicles to move and transfer these vibrations to the cochlea in the inner ear, where they are converted into nerve signals for the brain.