Which Structure Attaches the Tympanic Cavity to the Nasopharynx

Question

Which structure attaches the tympanic cavity to the nasopharynx?
A) external acoustic meatus
B) auditory tube
C) auditory ossicles
D) none of the above

Accepted Answer

The auditory tube, also known as the eustachian tube, connects the tympanic cavity to the nasopharynx. This tube allows for equalization of pressure between the middle ear and the environment outside the body. The external acoustic meatus is the opening in the ear canal that leads to the tympanic membrane (eardrum), and the auditory ossicles (malleus, incus, and stapes) are tiny bones in the middle ear that transmit vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the inner ear.