The outer ear comprises which structures?

The outer ear comprises which structures?

• A. Tympanic membrane and ossicles
• B. Pinna and the meatus
• C. Cochlea and semicircular canals
• D. Eustachian tube and tympanic membrane

Answer: (B)

The outer ear is the part of the ear that first collects and funnels sound into the ear. It includes the visible outer part, the pinna (auricle), and the external auditory canal (meatus) that leads to the eardrum. The tympanic membrane sits at the boundary between the outer and middle ear, so it is not part of the outer ear. The other structures listed belong to the middle or inner ear—the ossicles are the middle-ear bones, while the cochlea and semicircular canals are in the inner ear, and the Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the throat. Therefore, the combination of the pinna and the external auditory canal best defines the outer ear.

The outer ear is the part of the ear that first collects and funnels sound into the ear. It includes the visible outer part, the pinna (auricle), and the external auditory canal (meatus) that leads to the eardrum. The tympanic membrane sits at the boundary between the outer and middle ear, so it is not part of the outer ear. The other structures listed belong to the middle or inner ear—the ossicles are the middle-ear bones, while the cochlea and semicircular canals are in the inner ear, and the Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the throat. Therefore, the combination of the pinna and the external auditory canal best defines the outer ear.