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The auricular muscles are a group of muscles located around the ear, including extrinsic and intrinsic muscles, which play a role in the movement and reflexogenic functions of the ear. In humans, there are three extrinsic auricular muscles – the superior, anterior, and posterior auricular muscles – and six intrinsic auricular muscles – the helicis major and minor, tragicus, anti-tragicus, transverse, and oblique muscles. The extrinsic muscles connect the ear to the skull and scalp and move the ear as a whole, while the intrinsic muscles extend from one part of the ear to another. The auricular muscles have been considered vestigial in humans, but they have intact neural connections with the brainstem and other deep brain structures, making them valuable targets for neuroprosthetics and the diagnosis and treatment of various health conditions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of extrinsic auricular muscles | 3 |
| Extrinsic auricular muscles | Posterior, superior, and anterior auricular muscles |
| Number of intrinsic auricular muscles | 6 |
| Intrinsic auricular muscles | Helicis major and minor, tragicus, anti-tragicus, transverse, and oblique muscles |
| Function | Movement and reflexogenic functions of the ear |
| Function in the womb | May exert forces on the cartilage and affect the shaping of the ear |
| Function in postnatal humans | Rarely under voluntary control |
| Neural connections | With the brainstem and other deep brain structures |
| Use in neuroprosthetics | As targets for diagnosis and treatment of a range of diseases and health conditions |
| Use in neuroprosthetics | As a bio-controller for assistive devices |
| Blood supply | Superficial temporal, posterior auricular, and occipital arteries |
| Innervation | Branches of the facial nerve |
| Shape | Thin and fan-shaped (anterior auricular muscle) |
| Shape | Thin and fan-shaped (superior auricular muscle) |
| Shape | Two or three fleshy fascicules (posterior auricular muscle) |
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What You'll Learn
The three extrinsic auricular muscles
The auricle of humans and other mammals contains three extrinsic auricular muscles: the posterior auricular muscle (PAM), superior auricular muscle (SAM), and anterior auricular muscle (AAM). These muscles are responsible for the reinforcement, positioning, and angle of the auricle. They are innervated by the temporal (SAM and AAM) and PAM branches of the facial nerve and vascularised by the superficial temporal, posterior auricular, and occipital arteries.
The superior auricular muscle is the largest of the three extrinsic auricular muscles. It is thin and fan-shaped, with fibres arising from the galea aponeurotica. These fibres converge and are inserted by a thin, flattened tendon into the upper part of the cranial surface of the auricle. The superior auricular muscle is innervated by the temporal branch of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII).
The anterior auricular muscle is the smallest of the three extrinsic auricular muscles. It is also thin and fan-shaped, with pale and indistinct fibres. The fibres of the anterior auricular muscle arise from the lateral edge of the epicranial aponeurosis and converge to be inserted into a projection on the front of the helix. Like the superior auricular muscle, the anterior auricular muscle is innervated by the temporal branch of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII). It may also receive small branches from the auriculotemporal nerve, a branch of the mandibular nerve, which is itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve (V).
The posterior auricular muscle consists of two or three fleshy fascicules, arising from the mastoid portion of the temporal bone by short aponeurotic fibres. These fibres are inserted into the lower part of the cranial surface of the concha. Unlike the other two extrinsic auricular muscles, the posterior auricular muscle is innervated by the posterior auricular branch of cranial nerve VII.
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The six intrinsic auricular muscles
The auricle of humans and other mammals contains three extrinsic and six intrinsic auricular muscles. The six intrinsic auricular muscles are the helicis major (HMJM) and helicis minor (HMNM) muscles, tragicus muscle (TR), anti-tragicus muscle (ATR), transverse auricular muscle (TAM), and oblique muscle (OAM). These muscles are located around the ear and play a role in the movement and reflexogenic functions of the ear.
The intrinsic auricular muscles connect different regions of the auricle and have origins and insertions within the cartilaginous auricle. They contribute to the overall topography of the human ear and function as a sphincter of the external auditory meatus. The anterior group includes the HMJM, HMNM, TR, and ATR, while the posterior group includes the OAM and TAM.
All the intrinsic auricular muscles are innervated by branches of the facial nerve and vascularized by branches of the superficial temporal, posterior auricular, and occipital arteries. The temporalis branch of the facial nerve innervates the tragicus (TR and ATR) and helicis (HMJM and HMNM) muscles. The TAM and OAM are innervated by the auricular-occipitalis branch of the facial nerve.
The intrinsic auricular muscles have been considered vestigial in humans, but they may exert forces on the cartilage and affect the shaping of the ear during development in the womb. In postnatal humans, they are rarely under voluntary control, but the neural connections with the brainstem and other deep brain structures remain intact. These muscles are easily accessible for wearable neuroprosthetics and have been used for the diagnosis and treatment of a range of health conditions, including neurological disorders, brainstem injuries, emotional states, and auditory functions.
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Auricular muscles in neuroprosthetics
The mammalian external ear houses a group of muscles called the auricular muscles, which include three extrinsic auricular muscles and six intrinsic muscles. The extrinsic muscles are the posterior auricular muscle (PAM), superior auricular muscle (SAM), and anterior auricular muscle (AAM), while the intrinsic muscles are the helicis major (HMJM) and minor (HMNM), tragicus (TR), anti-tragicus (ATR), transverse auricular muscle (TAM), and oblique (OAM) muscles. These muscles are considered vestigial in humans, although it is suggested that they may influence the shaping of the ear during development in the womb.
Despite their limited movement in humans, the auricular muscles have intact neural connections with the brainstem and other deep brain structures. This accessibility makes them ideal targets for wearable neuroprosthetics, with potential applications in the diagnosis and treatment of various health conditions, including neurological disorders, brainstem injuries, emotional states, and auditory functions. The small nerve filaments within these muscles continue to significantly influence the body through reflexogenic connections.
Neuroprosthetics targeting the auricular muscles can be used to monitor and alleviate symptoms of various diseases. For example, a unilateral design of a wearable ear neuroprosthetic can be used for continuous recording or monitoring of the PAM, which is activated by auditory stimuli. This has implications for understanding the underlying neural pathway, which includes the cochlea and cochlear nucleus.
Furthermore, the extrinsic and intrinsic auricular muscles have extensive neural connections within the brainstem, deep brain structures, and the cortex, including motor and limbic neural structures. This highlights the potential for future diagnostic and therapeutic devices that utilize the auricular muscles and their neural networks. The accessibility of these muscles for wearable neuroprosthetics makes them a valuable target for developing innovative healthcare solutions.
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Auricular muscle anatomy
Auricular muscles refer to a group of muscles located around the ear, including extrinsic and intrinsic muscles, which play a role in the movement and reflexogenic functions of the ear. The auricle of humans and other mammals contains three extrinsic and six intrinsic auricular muscles. The extrinsic muscles are the posterior auricular muscle (PAM), superior auricular muscle (SAM), and anterior auricular muscle (AAM). The intrinsic muscles are the helicis major (HMJM) and minor (HMNM), tragicus, antitragicus, transverse, and oblique muscles.
The extrinsic muscles of the auricle are innervated by the facial nerve and are important to localize. They connect the auricle to the skull and scalp and move the auricle as a whole. The intrinsic muscles extend from one part of the auricle to another. The extrinsic muscles are the anterior, superior, and posterior auricular. The anterior auricular muscle, the smallest of the three, is thin and fan-shaped, and its fibres are pale and indistinct. It arises from the lateral edge of the galea aponeurotica, and its fibres converge to be inserted into a projection on the front of the helix. The superior auricular, the largest of the three, is also thin and fan-shaped. Its fibres arise from the galea aponeurotica and converge to be inserted by a thin, flattened tendon into the upper part of the cranial surface of the auricle. The posterior auricular consists of two or three fleshy fascicles, which arise from the mastoid portion of the temporal bone by short aponeurotic fibres. They are inserted into the lower part of the cranial surface of the concha.
The anterior auricular muscle draws the auricle of the outer ear upwards and forwards, although this movement is very subtle in most people. The superficial temporal artery, a branch of the external carotid artery, travels underneath the anterior auricular muscle to supply the auricle of the outer ear. The extrinsic and intrinsic auricular muscles have neural connections with the brainstem and other deep brain structures. These muscles are easily accessible for wearable neuroprosthetics and have been used for the diagnosis and treatment of a range of diseases and health conditions, including neurological disorders, brainstem injuries, and auditory functions.
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Auricular muscle functions
Auricular muscles refer to a group of muscles located around the ear. They consist of two sets: the extrinsic and the intrinsic auricular muscles. The extrinsic auricular muscles are the posterior, superior, and anterior auricular muscles. The intrinsic auricular muscles are the helicis major and minor, tragicus, anti-tragicus, transverse, and oblique muscles.
The three extrinsic auricular muscles arise from the temporal aspect of the cranium and insert into the auricular cartilage. They are responsible for the reinforcement, positioning, and angle of the auricle. The anterior auricular muscle, the smallest of the three, is thin and fan-shaped, and its fibres are pale and indistinct. It arises from the lateral edge of the epicranial aponeurosis and inserts into a projection on the front of the helix, drawing the auricle of the outer ear upwards and forwards. This movement is very subtle in most people, although some can wiggle their ears. The superior auricular muscle is the largest of the three and is also thin and fan-shaped. Its fibres arise from the galea aponeurotica and converge to be inserted into the upper part of the cranial surface of the auricle. The posterior auricular muscle consists of two or three fleshy fascicules, which arise from the mastoid portion of the temporal bone and are inserted into the lower part of the cranial surface of the concha.
The extrinsic auricular muscles are innervated by the facial nerve and are important for localising the auricle. The intrinsic auricular muscles extend from one part of the auricle to another. The transversus and obliquus auricular muscles are important for plical folding of the cartilaginous ear plate, and normal folding of the auricular cartilage is dependent on the presence of functioning auricular muscles.
In the modern world, the auricular muscles have little to do. They are considered vestigial in humans, although they may have played a protective role in the past. However, the neural connections of these muscles with the brainstem and other deep brain structures are intact, and they are easily accessible for wearable neuroprosthetics. They have been used as targets for the diagnosis and treatment of a range of diseases and health conditions, including neurological disorders, brainstem injuries, emotional states, and auditory functions.
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Frequently asked questions
Auricular muscles are a group of muscles located around the ear, including extrinsic and intrinsic muscles, which play a role in the movement and reflexogenic functions of the ear.
The extrinsic auricular muscles are the posterior auricular muscle (PAM), superior auricular muscle (SAM), and anterior auricular muscle (AAM). They hold the auricles in place and are responsible for the reinforcement, positioning, and angle of the auricle.
There are six intrinsic auricular muscles: the helicis major (HMJM) and minor (HMNM), tragicus, anti-tragicus, transverse, and oblique muscles.
The functionality of auricular muscles remains unclear and requires further research. However, they are easily accessible for wearable neuroprosthetics and have been used for the diagnosis and treatment of various health conditions, including neurological disorders and brainstem injuries.
