Which part of the ear collects sound waves and funnels them inward?

The pinna is the outer part of the ear that plays a crucial role in hearing by collecting sound waves from the environment. Its unique shape helps to capture sound waves and direct them into the ear canal. This funneling action is essential for amplifying the sound vibrations before they reach the eardrum.

In contrast, the middle ear contains the ossicles, which amplify sound vibrations but do not collect sound waves. The auditory nerve transmits sound information from the ear to the brain and does not participate in collection. The cochlea, located in the inner ear, is responsible for converting sound vibrations into neural signals, but it is not involved in the initial collection of sound waves. Thus, the pinna is the correct answer as it is specifically designed to collect and funnel sound into the inner parts of the ear for processing.