What does pinna mean?
Pinna is chiefly an anatomical term for the visible part of the outer ear, formally called the auricle. This flexible structure, supported by cartilage, helps gather incoming sound and directs it toward the ear canal. The word also has specialized botanical and zoological meanings: in plants, a pinna is one of the leaflets or segments of a pinnately divided leaf, especially in ferns, while in zoology it can describe a winglike or finlike projection. Anatomical and scientific writing commonly uses “pinna of the ear” or simply “pinna,” whereas everyday speakers usually say “outer ear.” The term is also related to words such as pinnate, pinnacle, and pinniped, all reflecting the Latin pinna, meaning “feather” or “wing.” Pinna is therefore a useful example of how one learned Latin word can acquire quite different but related meanings in the sciences.
nounIn anatomy, the pinna is the visible outer ear, the cartilaginous auricle that helps collect sound and direct it into the ear canal. In botany, it is a leaflet or segment of a pinnately divided leaf; it can also denote a winglike or finlike projection in zoology.
- The visible outer ear or auricle in humans and other mammals.
- A leaflet or segment of a pinnately divided leaf, especially in ferns.
- A winglike or finlike projection on an animal.
"The physician examined the pinna and ear canal for signs of infection."
"The surgeon carefully inspected the pinna for signs of frostbite."
"Each pinna of the fern frond contains several smaller divisions called pinnules."
The standard anatomical and botanical plural is “pinnae,” although usage of the unchanged plural “pinna” also occurs.
"The doctor examined both pinnae for asymmetry and tenderness."
The pinna is the outer ear's visible sound-collecting rim, and its name comes from the Latin word for a feather or wing.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
Related word forms
How pinna is actually used
The anatomical sense is specialized but standard in medicine, anatomy, and audiology; in general conversation, “outer ear” is more usual. Botanical and zoological uses belong to technical or literary contexts rather than everyday speech.