External ear

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The external ear is made up of two main components: the auricle and the external acoustic meatus. The auricle (pinna) is formed by a sheet of elastic fibrocartilaginous tissue covered by skin. It has a funnel-like shape with several depressions and elevations that help to collect and conduct sound waves from the outside into the external acoustic meatus. The external acoustic meatus is a part cartilaginous, part osseous tube that starts at the deepest part of the auricle and ends with the tympanic membrane. It is lined by the skin and contains hair and ceruminous glands which secrete wax, or cerumen. The tympanic membrane (eardrum) represents the border between the external and middle ear. Its main function is to transmit the sound waves for the external acoustic meatus to the ossicles located in the middle ear.

This video tutorial will provide you with an overview of the components of the external ear.

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