The auditory canal, also known as the external auditory meatus, is a tube-like structure that connects the outer ear to the middle ear. It is approximately 2.5 centimeters long in adults and is lined with skin that contains tiny hairs and glands that produce earwax. This earwax helps to protect the canal from dust, debris, and microorganisms. Sound waves travel through the auditory canal, causing the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted to the ossicles in the middle ear, which amplify the sound before it reaches the cochlea in the inner ear. The auditory canal plays a crucial role in the process of hearing.