Which of the following is the correct sequence of structures that sound waves pass through on the way to the auditory nerve?
A. cochlea, hammer, anvil, stirrup, eardrum
B. hammer, eardrum, basilar membrane, cochlea
C. hammer, anvil, stirrup, eardrum, cochlea
D. inner ear, middle ear, cochlea, eardrum
E. eardrum, hammer, anvil, stirrup, cochlea