The oval window, also known as the fenestra ovalis, is a membrane-covered opening that separates the middle ear from the inner ear in the human ear. Its main function is to transmit sound vibrations from the middle ear to the fluid-filled cochlea in the inner ear. When sound waves enter the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate, these vibrations are transferred to the three small bones in the middle ear (ossicles). The last bone in this chain, called the stapes, then pushes against the oval window, creating pressure waves in the fluid of the cochlea. These pressure waves stimulate the hair cells in the cochlea, which convert the mechanical vibrations into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain as sound. In summary, the oval window plays a crucial role in transmitting sound vibrations from the middle ear to the inner ear for auditory processing.