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The auricular muscles are a set of muscles that surround the ear. They consist of two types of muscles: extrinsic and intrinsic. The extrinsic auricular muscles are the anterior, superior, and posterior auricular muscles, which connect the ear to the skull and scalp. The intrinsic auricular muscles are the helicis major and minor, tragicus, antitragicus, transversus auriculae, and obliquus auriculae, which change the shape and position of the ear. The anterior auricular muscle, in particular, is the smallest of the three extrinsic auricular muscles, and it helps draw the auricle of the outer ear upwards and forwards.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Shape | Thin and fan-shaped |
| Size | Smallest of the three auricular muscles |
| Colour | Pale and indistinct |
| Origin | Lateral edge of the epicranial aponeurosis |
| Insertion | Projection on the front of the helix |
| Nerve Supply | Temporal branch of the facial nerve (VII) |
| Blood Supply | Superficial temporal artery, a branch of the external carotid artery |
| Function | Draws the auricle of the outer ear upwards and forwards |
| Reflexes | Auricular reflexes activate ear muscles during eye movements |
| Superior Auricular Muscle | Vertical band located on the ascending helix |
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What You'll Learn
- The anterior auricular muscle is the smallest of the three auricular muscles
- The superior auricular is the largest auricular muscle
- The auricular muscles are vestigial in humans
- The intrinsic auricular muscles change the auricle's shape and position
- The extrinsic auricular muscles connect the auricle to the skull
The anterior auricular muscle is the smallest of the three auricular muscles
The auricularis muscle is located in the human ear. The anterior auricular muscle is the smallest of the three auricular muscles. It is thin and fan-shaped, with pale and indistinct fibres. The muscle arises from the lateral edge of the epicranial aponeurosis, and its fibres converge to be inserted into a projection on the front of the helix.
The anterior auricular muscle is supplied by the temporal branch of the facial nerve (VII). Additionally, 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 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 anterior auricular muscle is considered a vestigial organ, and its function is to draw the auricle of the outer ear upwards or forwards, contributing to the reinforcement and angular positioning of the auricle. This movement is very subtle in most people, although some individuals can wiggle their ears.
The extrinsic muscles of the auricle, including the anterior auricular muscle, are important to localize as they are innervated by the facial nerve. The anterior auricular muscle is the smallest of the three extrinsic auricular muscles, with the superior auricular being the largest, and the posterior auricular consisting of two or three fleshy fascicules.
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The superior auricular is the largest auricular muscle
The auricular muscles are vestigial in humans, and few individuals can move their ears voluntarily. These muscles are generally considered to be of little functional significance. However, the largest of the three auricular muscles, the superior auricular muscle, is an exception. This muscle is located above the auricle of the outer ear and plays a pivotal role in adjusting the auricle's position. It originates from the epicranial aponeurosis and inserts into the upper part of the medial surface of the auricle, drawing it upwards. This movement is fundamental to the function of the ear in capturing and conducting sound.
The superior auricular muscle is thin and fan-shaped, with its fibres converging to be inserted by a thin, flattened tendon. It is supplied by the temporal branch of the facial nerve (VII). Research on electromyographic signals suggests that this muscle has a vestigial role linked to attempts to separate different sound sources. Thus, the superior auricular muscle's ability to adjust the auricle's position is essential for optimal hearing.
The extrinsic auricular muscles, including the superior auricular muscle, connect the auricle to the skull and scalp. They are responsible for moving the auricle as a whole, while the intrinsic muscles extend from one part of the auricle to another, changing its shape and position. The anterior auricular muscle, the smallest of the three, is also thin and fan-shaped. It arises from the lateral edge of the epicranial aponeurosis and inserts into a projection on the front of the helix, drawing the auricle upwards and forwards.
The auricular muscles contain small nerve filaments that have a significant influence on the body through reflexogenic connections. Manipulating these muscles can affect circulation to the face, and they are used in treating various conditions, such as congestive facial disorders and facial paralysis. The nervous system of the cartilage and the muscles of the ear produce these vascular effects due to their connections with the sympathetic carotid plexus.
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The auricular muscles are vestigial in humans
The auricular muscles are a set of muscles in the human ear. They are categorised into two groups: extrinsic and intrinsic. The extrinsic auricular muscles include the anterior, superior, and posterior auricular muscles, which connect the ear to the skull and scalp. The intrinsic auricular muscles include the helicis major and minor, tragicus, antitragicus, transversus auriculae, and obliquus auriculae, which are responsible for changing the shape and position of the auricle.
The auricular muscles are considered vestigial in humans, meaning they are remnants of our evolutionary history that have lost their original function. While these muscles play a role in sound localisation and emotional expression in many mammals, they are generally considered nonfunctional in humans. This is because humans have developed the ability to position their heads to capture sounds, reducing the need for auricular muscles.
Research has shown that the neural drive to our ear muscles is weak, resulting in small movements that are less noticeable compared to those generated during biting, smiling, or grimacing. The ability to swivel and point the pinnae, or visible part of the ear, seems to have been lost during the transition from nocturnal prosimians to diurnal New and Old World monkeys. As a result, the ears became shorter and more rigid, leading to the degeneration of the auricular musculature.
Despite the vestigial nature of the auricular muscles, they still exhibit some movement. The anterior auricular muscle, for example, draws the auricle of the outer ear upwards and forwards, although this movement is subtle and not all individuals can voluntarily move their ears. Additionally, the auricular muscles contain small nerve filaments that have a significant influence on the body through reflexogenic connections. They are also used in treating certain conditions, such as congestive facial disorders, facial paralysis, and hemiplegia, due to their connections with the sympathetic carotid plexus.
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The intrinsic auricular muscles change the auricle's shape and position
The auricular muscles are a group of muscles located around the ear, consisting of two sets: extrinsic and intrinsic. The intrinsic auricular muscles are situated within the elastic cartilaginous framework of the auricle and interconnect various auricular cartilaginous regions. These muscles do not connect to any extra-auricular parts of the body, such as the scalp or skull. Instead, they extend from one part of the auricle to another.
The intrinsic auricular muscles include the helicis major and minor, tragicus, antitragicus, transversus auriculae, and obliquus auriculae. These muscles are responsible for changing the shape and position of the auricle. They differ from the extrinsic auricular muscles, which pass from the scalp or skull to the auricle and influence its position.
The extrinsic muscles of the auricle are the anterior, superior, and posterior auricular muscles. The anterior auricular muscle, the smallest of the three, is thin and fan-shaped, with pale and indistinct fibres. It arises from the lateral edge of the epicranial aponeurosis and inserts into a projection on the front of the helix. This muscle draws the auricle of the outer ear upwards and forwards, although this movement is subtle in most people.
The superior auricular muscle is the largest of the three extrinsic muscles and is also thin and fan-shaped. Its fibres arise from the galea aponeurotica and converge into a thin, flattened tendon that inserts into the upper part of the cranial surface of the auricle. The posterior auricular muscle consists of two or three fleshy fascicules that arise from the mastoid portion of the temporal bone.
While the auricular muscles have limited movement in humans, and only a few individuals can move their ears voluntarily, they are still valuable for manipulation. The small nerve filaments within these muscles have a significant influence on the body through reflexogenic connections.
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The extrinsic auricular muscles connect the auricle to the skull
The auricle, or pinna, is the visible part of the external ear. It is attached to the skull and scalp by a group of muscles called the extrinsic auricular muscles. These muscles play a role in the movement and reflexogenic functions of the ear. The extrinsic auricular muscles are the anterior, superior, and posterior auricular muscles.
The anterior auricular muscle is the smallest of the three extrinsic auricular muscles. It is thin and fan-shaped, and its fibres are pale and indistinct. This muscle arises from the lateral edge of the epicranial aponeurosis, and its fibres converge to be inserted into a projection on the front of the helix. The anterior auricular muscle is supplied by the temporal branch of the facial nerve (VII) and may also receive small branches from the auriculotemporal nerve, a branch of the mandibular nerve. 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 superior auricular muscle is the largest of the three extrinsic auricular muscles. It is also thin and fan-shaped. This muscle originates in the epicranial aponeurosis (galea aponeurotica) and inserts into a tendon attached to the auricle superiorly.
The posterior auricular muscle is composed of 2-3 fascicles originating from the mastoid (temporal bone) and inserting into the posteroinferior part of the concha. The posterior and superior auricular muscles are supplied by the ascending posterior auricular branch of the facial nerve.
The extrinsic auricular muscles are important to localize as they are innervated by the facial nerve. They are involved in moving the auricle as a whole, pulling the ear upward, forward, and backward. The intrinsic auricular muscles, on the other hand, extend from one part of the auricle to another and change the auricular shape and position.
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Frequently asked questions
The auricularis muscle is located in the human ear. The three auricular muscles are the anterior auricular muscle, the superior auricular muscle, and the posterior auricular muscle.
The auricular muscles have limited movement in humans, and few individuals can move their ears voluntarily. The anterior auricular muscle draws the auricle of the outer ear upwards and forwards, which is a subtle movement, although some people can wiggle their ears.
The auricular muscles have a significant influence on the body through reflexogenic connections. Manipulations of the auricular muscles can affect circulation to the face and are used in cases of facial paralysis and congestive facial disorders.
