What Are the Slits on Dog Ears?

Dog ears are finely-tuned mechanisms. They enable a dog to hear sounds in as little as 1/16 of a second. However, not every part of a dog's ear serves an extraordinary purpose. The slits on a dog's ears are an example of a non-functional, odd-looking type of anatomy.

  1. Terminology

    • In medical terminology, the slit on a dog's ear is called the "cutaneous marginal pouch." In everyday English, this translates to "a small pouch of the skin."

    Identification

    • The cutaneous marginal pouch is located on the outside portion of a dog's ear, farthest away from the body. It is located between the conch and scaphal of the ear.

    Purpose

    • The slit on a dog's ear serves no known purpose, according to the book "Canine Anatomy."

    Considerations

    • All dogs posses this slit. It may be more readily apparent on some dogs, but this is perfectly normal.

    Fun Fact

    • Dogs have 15 muscles in their ears that enable them to turn their ear in almost every direction.