Final answer:
The term for a short, air-filled channel in the temporal bone that leads to the ear is the external acoustic meatus, which is crucial for sound wave transmission during audition.
Step-by-step explanation:
The short, air-filled channel you are asking about in the temporal bone of the skull that leads to the ear is known as the external acoustic meatus. It is a significant feature of the ear's anatomy and plays an essential role in the process of audition (hearing). Sound waves travel through this canal to reach the tympanic membrane, or eardrum. Beyond the eardrum is the middle ear, which contains the ossicles, three tiny bones that amplify sound waves to the inner ear. Another critical air-filled space in the bone related to the ear is the internal acoustic meatus, which is located inside the cranial cavity and provides for the passage of nerves related to hearing and equilibrium, as well as the facial muscles.