ABSTRACT
The ear of the dog and cat is composed of three parts: the external ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear (Figure 1.1)1-3. Together these components allow the animal to locate a sound and the direction from which it emanates, to orientate the head in relation to gravity, and to measure acceleration and rotation of the head. Selective breeding, of dogs in particular, has resulted in a wide variation in relative size and shape of the components of the external ear. Compare, for example, the French Bulldog, the Cocker Spaniel, the German Shepherd Dog, the St. Bernard, and the Persian cat. The pinnal shape and carriage, the diameter of the external ear canal, the degree of hair and amount of soft tissue within the external ear canal, and the shape of the
Q The external ear comprises the pinna and the external acoustic meatus. It serves to collect and locate the origin of sound waves.
