鼓膜

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: Written 鼓膜 and read こまく, it denotes the thin membrane that vibrates with sound between the outer and middle ear.
• Basic usage: It is used when protecting hearing from loud noise or examining the ear.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Not the entire ear
  • The word identifies one membrane within the auditory system.