Which of the following is NOT a component of the outer ear?

The cochlea is indeed not a component of the outer ear, making this the correct choice. The outer ear consists primarily of the pinna and the ear canal. The pinna, or auricle, is the visible part of the ear that helps to funnel sound waves into the ear canal. The ear canal, also known as the external auditory canal, is a tube-like structure that directs sound waves toward the tympanic membrane (eardrum), which is part of the middle ear.

The cochlea, on the other hand, is located in the inner ear and is responsible for the conversion of sound vibrations into neural signals that the brain interprets as sound. It plays a crucial role in hearing but is distinctly separate from the structures associated with the outer ear. This distinction is key in understanding the anatomy of the ear and the functions of its various components.