To open an adult ear canal, you should?

• A. Hold the upper ear, pulling up and back
• B. Hold the lower ear, pulling down and backward
• C. Twist the ear lobe
• D. Apply downward pressure on the tragus

Answer: (A)

To visualize an adult ear canal, straighten the external canal by pulling the pinna upward and backward. This orientation aligns the canal with the otoscope’s viewing path, reducing the natural bend and giving a clear view of the canal and tympanic membrane. For adults, this upward-backward pull is the recommended maneuver because the canal angles more downward. Pulling the pinna downward and backward is used for young children whose canals angle differently. Twisting the earlobe or applying pressure on the tragus doesn’t straighten the canal and can cause discomfort or obstruct the view, so they aren’t appropriate for opening the canal.