Outer ear

Outer part of the ear Outer earA diagram of the anatomy of the human ear: Brown is outer ear. Red is middle ear. Purple is inner ear.The auricula. Lateral surface.DetailsIdentifiersLatinauris externaMeSHD004431NeuroLex IDbirnlex_1705TA98A15.3.01.001TA26862FMA52781Anatomical terminology[edit on Wikidata] This article is one of a series documenting the anatomy of theHuman ear Outer ear Auricle Ear canal Middle ear Tympanic membrane Ossicles Malleus Incus Stapes Inner ear Vestibules Utricle Saccule Cochlea Semicircular canals vte The outer ear, external ear, or auris externa is the external part of the ear, which consists of the auricle (also pinna) and the ear canal. It gathers sound energy and focuses it on the eardrum (tympanic membrane). Structure Auricle The visible part is called the auricle, also known as the pinna, especially in other animals. It is composed of a thin plate of yellow elastic cartilage, covered with integument, and connected to the surrounding parts by ligaments and muscles; and to the commencement of the ear canal by fibrous tissue. Many mammals can move the pinna (with the auriculares muscles) in order to focus their hearing in a certain direction in much the