Meatus

Meatus is a term used in anatomy to refer to a natural body opening or canal. The term is derived from the Latin word meatus, meaning "a course" or "a passage". There are several types of meatus in the human body, including the external acoustic meatus, the internal acoustic meatus, and the urethral meatus.

External acoustic meatus

The external acoustic meatus (EAM) is the opening of the ear canal. It is located in the temporal bone of the skull and leads to the tympanic membrane (eardrum). The EAM is responsible for transmitting sound waves from the external environment to the tympanic membrane.

Internal acoustic meatus

The internal acoustic meatus is a canal within the petrous part of the temporal bone of the skull. It transmits the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves from the inner ear to the brain.

Urethral meatus

The urethral meatus is the opening of the urethra, located at the tip of the penis in males and in front of the vagina in females. It serves as the exit point for urine and, in males, semen.

Other meatuses

Other meatuses in the human body include the nasal meatus, which are three passages located inside the nose, and the inferior meatus, which drains the nasolacrimal duct.

See also

• Anatomy
• Canal (anatomy)
• Orifice