An ear is the organ that enables hearing and body balance using the vestibular system. In mammals, the ear is usually described as having three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. The outer ear consists of the pinna and the ear canal. Since the outer ear is the only visible portion of the ear in most animals, the word "ear" often refers to the external part alone. The middle ear includes the tympanic cavity and the three ossicles. The inner ear sits in the bony labyrinth, and contains structures which are key to several senses: the semicircular canals, which enable balance and eye tracking when moving; the utricle and saccule, which enable balance when stationary; and the cochlea, which enables hearing. The ear canal is cleaned via earwax, which naturally migrates to the auricle. The ears of vertebrates are placed somewhat symmetrically on either side of the head, an arrangement that aids sound localization.

कान हे मानवाचे महत्त्वाचे इंद्रिये आहे. या इंंद्रिया मुुुुळेध्वनीची जाणीव होते. ऐकण्यासाठी कान मदत करतात. मानवी शरीरास दोन कान असतात. ज्याला ऐकू येत नाही त्याला बहिरा किंवा कर्णबधिर म्हणतात. जन्मतःच कर्णबधिर असलेली मुले, मुकी होण्याची दाट शक्यता असते.