The human ear is the anatomical structure responsible for hearing and balance.

The ear consists of three parts: the outer, middle, and inner ears. The outer ear collects sounds from the environment and funnels them through the auditory system. The outer ear is composed of three parts. The pinnas, the two flap-like structures on either side of the head commonly called ears, are skin-covered cartilage, not bone, and are therefore flexible. The second part of the outer ear, the external auditory canal, is a passageway in the temporal lobe of the skull, which leads from the outside of the head and extends inward and slightly upwards. In the adult human, it is lined with skin and hairs and is approximately 1 in (2.5 cm) long.

The third part of the outer ear, the tympanic membrane or eardrum, is a thin, concave membrane stretched across the inner end of the external...