Final answer:
The question pertains to the external ear structure, particularly the auricle and ear canal, of a person whose area behind the ear is not prominent. Despite variations in size, this does not greatly affect the ear's ability to transmit sound to the tympanic membrane and through the middle ear.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question being asked relates to the structures of the external ear which are on the lateral surface of the head. These structures include the auricle and the ear canal that extends back to the tympanic membrane. For a person with a small area behind the ear, which is not very prominent, it usually means that the person has a smaller auricle but this does not necessarily imply any functional difference. The human ear is designed to capture sound waves through the auricle and channel them through the ear canal to the tympanic membrane, regardless of the size or prominence of the external ear structures.
Concerning the anatomy of the ear, the external ear captures sound waves which are then transmitted through the ear canal to reach the tympanic membrane. After reaching the tympanic membrane, sound vibrations travel through the ossicles of the middle ear (one of which is the malleus, also known as the hammer) and are then interpreted in the inner ear. It is important to note that while the size of the auricle might affect the directionality of sound, the ear's sensitivity to certain frequencies such as 11.0 kHz is not particularly high, hence we do not generally hear overtones due to the ear canal's shape or size.