The ear canal is a small, tube-like structure in the ear that connects the outer ear to the eardrum. It is responsible for transmitting sound waves from the outside world to the middle ear. However, there are many synonyms for it that can be used in different contexts. Some of the most common alternatives to "ear canal" include auditory canal, acoustic meatus, external auditory meatus, and meatus acusticus. These synonyms can be used interchangeably to describe the same anatomical structure in the ear. Furthermore, their usage depends on the context and linguistic register of the speaker.