external auditory meatus
Very Low (C2+)Highly Technical / Medical
Definition
Meaning
The ear canal; the tube-like passage leading from the outer ear to the eardrum.
A specific anatomical structure forming the external opening of the ear. In medical contexts, it may be discussed in relation to conditions like otitis externa (infection), obstruction, or trauma.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a precise anatomical term. It is almost exclusively used in medical, biological, or clinical contexts. It is a compound noun where 'external' distinguishes it from the internal auditory meatus (a different canal in the skull for the auditory nerve).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. Spelling follows standard UK/US conventions for the component words (e.g., no change).
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally rare and technical in both varieties. The simpler term 'ear canal' is vastly more common in all non-specialist contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + the external auditory meatus (e.g., examine, irrigate, visualise)inflammation/infection/obstruction + of + the external auditory meatusthe external auditory meatus + [verb] (e.g., leads to, extends to)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Never used.
Academic
Used exclusively in medical, anatomical, biological, or health science textbooks, lectures, and research papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used. People say 'ear canal' or simply 'ear'.
Technical
The primary context. Used by doctors, audiologists, anatomists, and veterinarians for precise description.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The clinician must carefully examine the external auditory meatus.
- They irrigated the impacted external auditory meatus.
American English
- The doctor visualized the external auditory meatus with an otoscope.
- We need to clean the patient's external auditory meatus.
adverb
British English
- N/A (The term itself is not used adverbially).
American English
- N/A (The term itself is not used adverbially).
adjective
British English
- The external auditory meatus examination was normal.
- He has a bilateral external auditory meatus infection.
American English
- The external auditory meatus lining was inflamed.
- There was a foreign body in the external auditory meatus canal.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The doctor looked in my ear. (Implies the meatus, but the term is not used at this level.)
- If you put things in your ear canal, you can cause damage.
- Otitis externa is an infection of the outer ear canal, known medically as the external auditory meatus.
- During the autopsy, the forensic pathologist noted a haemorrhage in the lining of the left external auditory meatus, suggestive of trauma.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a MEATY (meatus) tube that's for AUDITORY (hearing) and is on the EXTERNAL (outside) of your head. 'External Auditory Meatus' = The meaty hearing tube on the outside.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE EAR IS A TUNNEL/CHANNEL. The meatus is the specific, named tunnel for sound.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calques like '*external auditory passage*' in formal English, though it would be understood. The standard term is 'external auditory meatus' or 'ear canal'.
- Do not confuse with 'слуховой проход' (which is correct) and 'барабанная перепонка' (eardrum), which is at the end of the meatus.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing 'meatus' as /ˈmiː.təs/ (like 'meat us') instead of /miˈeɪ.təs/.
- Using it in everyday conversation, which sounds overly clinical and pedantic.
- Misspelling 'auditory' as 'auditary' or 'meatus' as 'meatis'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common, non-technical synonym for 'external auditory meatus'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in precise terms. 'Ear canal' is the common term, while 'external auditory meatus' is the formal anatomical name.
Only in formal medical, anatomical, or scientific writing and speech. In all everyday and general contexts, use 'ear canal'.
It is pronounced /miˈeɪ.təs/ (mee-AY-tuss), with the stress on the second syllable. A common mistake is to say /ˈmiː.təs/ (MEE-tuss).
It is a completely different structure. The internal auditory meatus is a canal inside the skull bone that transmits nerves and blood vessels, not the outer ear canal you can see.