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What is the role of the auricle in human hearing?

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Cross-section diagram of the human ear showing the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear, with labeled parts including the auricle, auditory canal, tympanic membrane, ossicles, cochlea, semicircular canals, and nerves. — human ear Structure of the human ear.

The auricle, also known as the pinna, is the visible portion of the outer ear. Its primary role in human hearing is to collect sound waves from the environment and guide them into the external auditory canal, directing them toward the tympanic membrane.1

Anatomically, the auricle is shaped as an irregular, shallow funnel composed of elastic cartilage covered by skin. This structure features various ridges and furrows, with its deepest depression, the concha, serving as the gateway to the auditory canal. While the auricle possesses small muscles that allow for limited movement in some individuals, these are generally considered nonfunctional in humans compared to other mammals.2