The external ear consists of a short bony tube projecting from the petrous temporal bone, termed the external auditory canal, together with three pieces of cartilage, and a number of muscles, vessels, and nerves, etc.

The Cartilages are distinguished as the conchal the annular, and the scutiform. The conchal cartilage forms the framework of all that portion of the ear which stands erect. It presents a large vertical opening on one side for the reception of sound, and is attached below to the annular cartilage, a small ring of gristle connected with the auditory process of the petrous temporal bone. The scutiform cartilage is a small, flat, somewhat triangular cartilaginous plate situated in the front of the base of the concha, to which it is attached. The cartilages of the ear are for the purpose of collecting and transmitting sound to the essential organ of hearing within the temporal bone, and to effect this purpose they, and especially the concha, require to be moved in various directions. This is effected by means of the following muscles, which are connected with them:-