Final answer:
The term for the external opening of the auditory canal is the External auditory meatus, which is part of the external ear and serves as the entrance for sound waves, leading them to the eardrum.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term for the external opening of the auditory canal is the External auditory meatus. The external auditory meatus plays a critical role in the process of hearing. Sound waves enter the ear through this canal and travel to the eardrum, also known as the tympanic membrane, causing it to vibrate. This vibration is then transmitted to the three small bones in the middle ear collectively known as the ossicles, which in turn pass the vibrations to the inner ear structures for further processing. The cochlea, part of the inner ear, is responsible for converting these vibrations into neural signals that the brain interprets as sound, whereas the Eustachian tube helps to equalize pressure in the middle ear.
Thus, when you are asked about the external opening of the auditory canal, the correct answer is Option 1: External auditory meatus. The other options listed: cochlea, tympanic membrane, and Eustachian tube, while important parts of the auditory system, are not the external opening of the auditory canal.