The external ear consists of the auricle (the visible ear) and the external acoustic meatus, the canal leading to the eardrum. The outer third of the canal is cartilage and the inner two-thirds is bone. Its shape funnels sound and boosts frequencies important for speech.
| Location | Side of the head, extending from the auricle to the tympanic membrane |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Great auricular nerve; Lesser occipital nerve; Auriculotemporal nerve; Auricular branch of the vagus; Sensory twigs from the facial nerve |
| Blood Supply | Posterior auricular artery; Superficial temporal artery; Deep auricular artery |
Collects and funnels sound to the eardrum, helps locate sound sources and protects the canal with wax.
The skin of the canal migrates outward and carries wax with it, so cotton buds tend to push wax deeper. Otitis externa (swimmer's ear) causes pain on pulling the auricle. Its sensory supply includes the vagus nerve, which is why cleaning the canal can trigger coughing.
Infection or inflammation of the ear canal skin, often after swimming or trauma, causing pain, itch and discharge.
A severe infection spreading from the ear canal into the skull base, usually from Pseudomonas in older diabetic patients.
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