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What two components make up the outer ear?

  1. Auditory canal and cochlea

  2. Auricle (pinna) and auditory canal

  3. Tympanic membrane and malleus

  4. External auditory meatus and auricle

The correct answer is: Auricle (pinna) and auditory canal

The correct answer identifies the auricle, also known as the pinna, and the auditory canal as the two components that make up the outer ear. The auricle is the visible part of the ear that helps collect sound waves and direct them into the ear. It plays a crucial role in the localization of sound and helps funnel audio into the auditory canal. The auditory canal, also known as the external auditory meatus, serves as a passageway that directs sound waves from the outer ear to the tympanic membrane (eardrum). Together, the auricle and auditory canal are essential for the initial stages of hearing, allowing sound waves to enter the ear and be transported toward the middle and inner ear for further processing. Other options include structures that either do not belong to the outer ear or are components of the middle or inner ear. This distinction underscores the importance of knowing the anatomy of the ear in understanding audiology and physiology related to the auditory system.