An auricle is the visible outer part of your ear, the curved flap of skin and cartilage on the side of your head. Some people call it the pinna, and its shape helps funnel sound waves into your ear canal, almost like a satellite dish catching signals. The curves and folds aren't random: they help you figure out whether sounds are coming from above or below you, not just left or right.

Doctors and scientists also use auricle to describe small, ear-shaped pouches in the human heart, which got their name because they look a bit like ears. But when most people say auricle, they mean the part of your ear you can see and touch.

Different animals have auricles shaped for their needs. A rabbit's long auricles can swivel to catch sounds from different directions, helping it detect predators. Dogs can move their auricles toward interesting sounds. Human auricles stay put, but they still help us hear better than we would without them.