What is the function of the ear canal?

The primary function of the ear canal is to direct sound waves towards the eardrum. This tube-like structure acts as a pathway through which sound waves travel from the outer environment into the external auditory system, ultimately leading to the tympanic membrane, commonly known as the eardrum. The ear canal not only helps in the efficient transmission of sound waves but also serves to protect the eardrum from foreign objects and assists in maintaining the proper pressure necessary for sound perception.

Other functions, such as sound amplification, are performed primarily by structures in the middle and inner ear, while converting sound waves into electrical signals is the role of the inner ear and auditory nerve, not the ear canal itself. Additionally, interpreting loudness is a cognitive function carried out by the brain after the auditory signals have been processed.