The outer ear

At first glance, the outer ear may seem pretty simple: it’s just a small curve of skin and cartilage on the side of your head. But what you see on the outside is only the beginning. This article will explore the anatomy, functions and common conditions afflicting the outer ear.

Key Takeaways

The outer ear has three main parts: the pinna (auricle), the ear canal and the eardrum. All three of these parts work together to capture and conduct sound.
The outer ear serves several key functions including collecting sound, directing it inward, protecting the ear and helping identify where sounds come from.
Multiple nerves support sensation in the outer ear, including the auricular, occipital, facial, vagus and glossopharyngeal nerves.
Protecting your ears is very important and built-in to their function. Earwax and tiny hairs block dust, dirt and small particles from entering deeper parts of the ear.
Common outer ear issues include infections (like swimmer’s ear), earwax buildup, inflammation and injuries.

Prevention is the key

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What is the outer ear?

Our ears consist of external, middle and inner structures. The two terms for the outer ear are external ear or auris externa. This is the visible part of our hearing apparatus and the outermost portion of your ear’s anatomy.

Parts of the outer ear

The anatomy of the ear is complex. There are three main parts of the outer ear: the pinna, the ear canal and the eardrum.¹ Let’s dive into the specific function and definition of each of these parts of the outer ear.

Pinna (auricle)

The medical term for the outer ear is the pinna or auricle, which comes from the Latin word for “wing.” The pinna is the fleshy portion of the ear outside of the skull, made up of cartilage and skin. The pinna consists of several parts, including:

Antihelix, Antitragus, Concha, Helical crus, Helix, Lobe/lobule, Scapha, Tragus, Triangular fossa

External auditory canal

The ear canal, or the external auditory canal, is a tube-like structure that runs from the external pinna to the internal eardrum. Its primary function is to conduct sound waves in the air toward the eardrum,² and it is also responsible for producing earwax.

Tympanic membrane (eardrum)

The tympanic membrane, also known as the eardrum, is what separates the outer and middle ear. It’s a thin layer of tissue with skin on the outside and lining on the inside.³ When sound waves hit the tympanic membrane, it vibrates. Those vibrations are sent to the inner ear, which are then transformed to electrical signals and then sent to your brain and interpreted as sound.

Nerves of the outer ear

The outer ear gets its sense of feeling from several nerves working together, including the great auricular nerve, the lesser occipital nerve, the auriculotemporal nerve, the facial nerve, the vagus nerve and the glossopharyngeal nerve.

The great auricular nerve is a small nerve that comes from the side of your neck. Its job is to carry feeling (touch, temperature and pain) from the skin in certain areas: the side of your face over the parotid gland (just in front of your ear), your outer ear and the skin just behind your ear.⁴

The lesser occipital nerve is another nerve that comes from the upper part of the neck and supplies feeling to the skin on the side and back of your scalp, and also to part of the outer surface of your ear.⁵

The auriculotemporal nerve gives feeling to the front of your ear, temple, ear canal and your eardrum.⁶

The facial nerve is mainly responsible for moving the muscles in your face, but it also gives some feeling to parts of your outer ear and ear canal.

The vagus nerve is the longest nerve in the body and affects swallowing and speech.⁷ This nerve also supplies feeling to the inner parts of the pinna and your outer ear.⁸

The glossopharyngeal nerve is the ninth cranial nerve and provides sensation to part of your middle ear, the Eustachian tube and the inside surface of your eardrum.⁹

What is the purpose of the outer ear?

The purpose of the outer ear is to gather sound waves and funnel them into the inner ear, helping you hear more effectively.¹⁰

What is the function of the outer ear?

There are several important functions of the outer ear, including:

Collecting sound: The curved shape of the ear captures sound waves from the environment.
Directing sound inward: The ear canal carries those sound waves toward the eardrum.
Protecting the ear: Earwax and tiny hairs in the ear canal help block dust, dirt and small particles from reaching deeper parts of the ear, helping protect the inner ear from infection and debris.
Interpreting sound direction: The shape of the ear also helps the brain figure out where sounds are coming from (in front, behind, above or below).

Care for your ears

One of the best ways to care for your ears and prevent hearing loss is to get them properly examined by a hearing professional. Find your nearest Miracle-Ear store to get started on your journey to better hearing.

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Common conditions and disorders

There are several common conditions and disorders that can affect the outer ear.

Inflammation of the outer ear, referred to as “otitis externa” or swimmer’s ear, is usually caused by an infection,¹¹ often caused by bacteria. This can result in the outer ear being itchy or red, ear pain, or swelling by the ear and neck.

Infection of the outer ear canal is a common cause of earaches. They are usually caused by bacteria or germs that enter the ear canal.¹²

The outer ear can experience a few different problems, most of which are treatable.

Common conditions include swimmer’s ear (infection of the ear canal), earwax buildup and, more rarely, infections of the ear’s cartilage (perichondritis) or unusual growths on the outer ear (external audio exostosis, or surfer’s ear) or in the ear canal. These issues can cause pain, swelling or changes in hearing.

If you experience any of these symptoms, it might be a good time to check in with a healthcare provider.

Causes of pain in the outer ear

Pain on the outer ear can come from several sources, such as:

Infections (like swimmer’s ear)
Injury or trauma to the ear
Skin conditions (like eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis or sunburn)
Foreign objects in the ear canal
A hole in the outer ear caused by piercing, injury or surgery

Surgical repair of the outer ear

When the outer ear is damaged or misshapen, surgery can sometimes restore its appearance or function. This may involve reshaping the ear, repairing injuries or closing a hole.

How to clean the outer ear

Wipe the outside only: Use a soft cloth or tissue to gently clean the outer part of your ear.
Avoid cotton swabs inside the canal: Q-tips and similar items can push wax deeper or even injure the ear.
If needed, use drops: Over-the-counter earwax drops or warm mineral oil can sometimes help soften wax.¹³
See a professional: If earwax builds up, causes pain or affects hearing, it’s safest to have it removed by a healthcare provider.

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When to see a professional

If you’re experiencing persistent pain or infection in your ears, whether the outer ear or inner structures, or if you’re noticing a decreased ability to hear, it’s time to see your healthcare professional.

For infections, visit your medical doctor. For any hearing-related concerns, you can book an appointment at your nearest Miracle-Ear location where you’ll receive a free hearing test from a licensed hearing care professional.

Sources

¹ “Anatomy of the Ear.” National Human Genome Research Institute, elementsofmorphology.nih.gov/anatomy-ear.shtml. Accessed 11 Sept. 2025.

² Szymanski, Alice, and Zachary Geiger. “Anatomy, Head and Neck, Ear.” U.S. National Library of Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 24 July 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470359/.

³ “Tympanic Membrane.” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2 May 2024, medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/8993.htm.

⁴ Ginsberg, Lawrence E, and Susan A Eicher. “Great Auricular Nerve: Anatomy and Imaging in a Case of Perineural Tumor Spread.” AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 21 Mar. 2000, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8174985/.

⁵ Yu, Megan, and Shu-Min Wang. “Anatomy, Head and Neck, Occipital Nerves.” StatPearls [Internet]., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 31 Oct. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542213/.

⁶ Greenberg, Jacob S, and Michael J Breiner. “Anatomy, Head and Neck: Auriculotemporal Nerve.” StatPearls [Internet]., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 8 Aug. 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544240/.

⁷ “Role of the Vagus Nerve in Epilepsy: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia Image.” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 16 Apr. 2025, medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/19252.htm.

⁸ Kaniusas, Eugenijus, et al. “Current Directions in the Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation I – A Physiological Perspective.” Frontiers in Neuroscience, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 9 Aug. 2019, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6697069/.

⁹ Thomas, Kathryn, et al. “Neuroanatomy, Cranial Nerve 9 (Glossopharyngeal).” StatPearls [Internet]., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 7 Nov. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539877/.

¹⁰ Purves, Dale. “The External Ear.” Neuroscience. 2nd Edition., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Jan. 1970, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10908/.

¹¹ “Overview: Outer Ear Infection.” InformedHealth.Org [Internet]., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 13 June 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279353/.

¹² “Overview: Outer Ear Infection.” InformedHealth.Org [Internet]., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 13 June 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279353/.

¹³ “Outer Ear Infection: Research Summaries – What Helps If Earwax Builds Up?” InformedHealth.Org [Internet]., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 13 June 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279354/.