AUDITORY CANAL Meaning and
Definition
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The auditory canal, also known as the ear canal, is a tubular structure that connects the outer ear to the middle ear. It is a crucial component of the human ear, responsible for transmitting sound waves from the external environment to the eardrum. With a length of approximately 2.5 centimeters in adults, the auditory canal is situated in the temporal bone.
The auditory canal has a diverse structure designed to aid in the efficient conduction of sound. In its outer part, the canal contains tiny hairs and specialized glands that produce earwax, which helps to trap foreign particles, prevent infection, and keep the skin in the canal moist. Additionally, the cerumen, or earwax, acts as a protective barrier by repelling water and insects.
The narrow passage of the auditory canal directs sound waves towards the eardrum, making it an essential process in the hearing mechanism. Sound waves enter the canal, causing vibrations in the eardrum that then convert these mechanical vibrations into electrical signals. These signals are subsequently transmitted to the brain through the auditory nerve, enabling the perception and interpretation of sound.
Furthermore, the auditory canal plays a role in providing resonance to certain frequencies of sound, aiding in localizing the source of sound, and protecting the delicate structures of the middle and inner ear from external damage. Thus, the auditory canal is a vital part of the auditory system, facilitating the process of hearing and contributing to auditory perception in humans.
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• Meatus acusticus externus.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for AUDITORY CANAL
- zuditory canal
- suditory canal
- wuditory canal
- quditory canal
- ayditory canal
- ahditory canal
- ajditory canal
- aiditory canal
- a8ditory canal
- a7ditory canal
- ausitory canal
- auxitory canal
- aucitory canal
- aufitory canal
- auritory canal
- audutory canal
- audjtory canal
- audktory canal
- audotory canal
Etymology of AUDITORY CANAL
The word "auditory" comes from the Latin word "audire" which means "to hear". The word "canal" comes from the Latin word "canalis" which means "tube" or "pipe". Therefore, the term "auditory canal" refers to the tube-like structure in the ear that leads from the outer ear to the eardrum, responsible for transmitting sound to the middle ear.
Similar spelling words for AUDITORY CANAL
- auditory area,
- Auditory Ossicle,
- auditory image,
- auditory system,
- auditory sense,
- auditory tube,
- auditory center,
- auditory agnosia,
- auditory aphasia,
- auditory modality,
- auditory cortex,
- auditory meatus,
- auditory nerve.
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