external auditory meatus

This term is a precise anatomical designation used primarily in medical, surgical, and biological contexts. It describes the physical passage of the ear canal. In a clinical setting, it is the standard terminology for documentation and professional communication, whereas a layperson would simply refer to this area as the ear canal.

Because it refers to a specific, singular anatomical structure within the human body, it is treated as a countable noun in a biological sense (e.g., referring to the meatus of both the left and right ears), though it is most frequently encountered in the singular when discussing a specific patient's pathology.