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The ear canal or 'external auditory meatus' is a tube running from the outer ear to the middle ear. The ear canal extends from the pinna to the eardrum and is about 26 mm in length and 7 mm in diameter.
Description and acoustic characteristics
The outer foundation of the ear canal is cartilage covered with skin that contains hairs and glands that secrete wax. The hairs and wax (cerumen) help prevent foreign bodies, such as insects or dust, from entering the ear canal.
The ear canal protects the eardrum and acts as a resonator, providing about 10 dB of gain to the eardrum at around 3,300 Hz. The net effect of the head, pinna, and ear canal is that sounds in the 2,000 to 4,000 Hz region are amplified by between 10 and 15 dB. Sensitivity to sounds is greatest in this frequency region and therefore excessive noise in this range is the most likely to cause hearing damage.
Size and shape
Size and shape of the canal vary among individuals. This is an important factor to consider when fitting hearing protectors.
Disorders
The ear canal, because of its relative exposure to the outside world, is a common victim of diseases and other disorders. Some disorders include:
- Otitis externa (swimmer's ear), bacteria-caused inflammation of the ear canal
- Contact dermititis of the ear canal
- Ear fungus
- Ear maggots, extremely rare infestation of insects
- Bone exposure, caused by the wearing away of skin in the canal
- Granuloma, scar tissue usually caused by ear tubes
- Stenosis, a gradual closing of the canal
- Foreign body in ear
References
"Ear canal"