Structure of the External Ear

The external ear is composed of three elastic cartilages: annular, scutiform, and auric­ular (Figure 1-1). The annular and auricular cartilages form the external ear canal, and the auricular cartilage expands to form the pinna.

Figure 1-1

Cartilages of the right external ear. (From Evans HE, ed: Miller’s Anatomy of the dog, ed 3, Philadelphia, 1993, WB Saunders.)

Figure 1-2

Location of the scutiform cartilage in relation to some of the external ear muscles in the dog.

medial to the auricular cartilage within the auricular muscles that attach to the head (Figure 1-2).