Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The external acoustic meatus is a canal leading from the outer ear to the eardrum. It functions in directing sound waves from the external environment towards the eardrum.
Related terms
Tympanic Membrane: A thin layer that separates the outer ear from the middle ear and vibrates in response to sound waves.
Pinna: The visible part of the ear that captures sound waves and directs them into the external acoustic meatus.
Middle Ear: An air-filled space containing three small bones that transmit vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the inner ear