The tympanic membrane (eardrum) is set in the auditory canal. It is a thin semitransparent, oval-shaped membrane, which has a stiff rim and a concave outer surface. It is just a fraction of an inch in size and is often called the "eardrum" because it resembles the skin stretched across a drum. Sounds in the |ear| canal cause the tympanic membrane to vibrate with complex patterns. It is attached to the malleus (hammer), the first of the middle |ear|'s three bones. The tympanic membrane's vibrations move the malleus, which in turn moves the incus (anvil). The incus then moves the stapes (stirrup) which is attached to the |oval window|.
