The outer ear consists of the pinna, ear canal and eardrum. The middle ear consists of the ossicles (malleus, incus, stapes) and ear drum. The inner ear consists of the cochlea, the auditory (hearing) nerve and the brain. Sound waves enter the ear canal and make the ear drum vibrate. This action moves the tiny chain of bones (ossicles â malleus, incus, stapes) in the middle ear.