What does the auditory canal do?

The auditory canal plays a crucial role in the hearing process by transmitting sound waves to the tympanic membrane, also known as the eardrum. When sound waves enter the auditory canal, they travel through this passageway, ultimately reaching the tympanic membrane, which vibrates in response to those sound waves. This vibration is the initial step in converting sound waves into auditory signals sent to the brain.

While amplifying sound waves and filtering noise are functions associated more with other parts of the auditory system, such as the outer ear's shape and the brain's processing capabilities, the primary role of the auditory canal itself is to serve as a conduit for sound waves. The protection of the tympanic membrane is an ancillary benefit of the structure of the auditory canal, which can help keep debris and foreign objects out, but its main purpose is to facilitate the transmission of sound.