What is the name of the membrane in the middle ear that vibrates in response to sound waves?

The name of the membrane in the middle ear that vibrates in response to sound waves is the eardrum, also known as the tympanic membrane. It serves a crucial role in the auditory system by converting sound waves from the air into mechanical vibrations. When sound waves enter the ear canal, they strike the eardrum, causing it to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted through the ossicles, which are small bones in the middle ear, to the inner ear, where they are transformed into nerve impulses that the brain interprets as sound.

In contrast, the inner ear refers to the part of the ear that includes the cochlea and vestibular system, responsible for hearing and balance, but it does not directly vibrate in response to sound waves. The ear canal is the passage that conducts sound waves to the eardrum but is not a membrane itself. A sound filter would not be a recognized anatomical structure in the ear; rather, it might refer to devices or phenomena that modify sound characteristics, but it is not applicable in describing the function of any part of the ear's anatomy.