external auditory canal

external auditory canal

also called  External Auditory Meatus, or External Acoustic Meatus,  
 passageway that leads from the outside of the head to the tympanic membrane, or eardrum (ear, human) membrane, of each ear. The structure of the external auditory canal is the same in all mammals. In appearance it is a slightly curved tube that extends inward from the floor of the auricle, or protruding portion of the outer ear, and ends blindly at the eardrum membrane, which separates it from the middle ear. The outside third of the canal wall consists of cartilage, and the inner two-thirds of the wall are made of bone. The canal is nearly 1 inch (2.5 cm) in length and is lined with skin that extends to cover the tympanic membrane. Tiny hairs directed outward and modified sweat glands that produce cerumen (earwax) help to discourage insects from entering the ear.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • external auditory canal — n the auditory canal leading from the opening of the external ear to the eardrum called also external acoustic meatus, external auditory meatus * * * meatus acusticus externus …   Medical dictionary

  • external auditory canal — noun either of the passages in the outer ear from the auricle to the tympanic membrane • Syn: ↑auditory meatus, ↑acoustic meatus, ↑ear canal, ↑auditory canal • Hypernyms: ↑meatus • Part Holonyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • auditory canal — n either of two passages of the ear called also acoustic meatus, auditory meatus see EXTERNAL AUDITORY CANAL, INTERNAL AUDITORY CANAL …   Medical dictionary

  • auditory canal — noun either of the passages in the outer ear from the auricle to the tympanic membrane • Syn: ↑auditory meatus, ↑acoustic meatus, ↑ear canal, ↑external auditory canal • Hypernyms: ↑meatus • Part Holonyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • external auditory meatus — Anat. the canal extending from the opening in the external ear to the tympanic membrane. * * * …   Universalium

  • external auditory meatus — exter′nal au′ditory mea′tus n. anat. the canal extending from the opening in the external ear to the tympanic membrane …   From formal English to slang

  • auditory meatus — noun either of the passages in the outer ear from the auricle to the tympanic membrane • Syn: ↑acoustic meatus, ↑ear canal, ↑auditory canal, ↑external auditory canal • Hypernyms: ↑meatus • Part Holonyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • External acoustic meatus — Infobox Anatomy Name =External acoustic meatus Latin = meatus acusticus externus GraySubject = 229 GrayPage = 1036 Caption = Anatomy of the human ear. Caption2 = Precursor = groove (cleft) of the first branchial arch. [EmbryologyUNC|hednk|022]… …   Wikipedia

  • external ear — noun the part of the ear visible externally • Syn: ↑outer ear • Hypernyms: ↑external organ • Part Holonyms: ↑auditory apparatus • Part Meronyms: ↑auditory meatus …   Useful english dictionary

  • Auditory — means of or relating to the process of hearing:* Auditory system, the neurological structures and pathways of sound perception. * Sound, the physical signal perceived by the auditory system. * Hearing (sense), is the auditory sense, the sense by… …   Wikipedia

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