Auricular Muscles
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Della Barnes, an MS Anatomy graduate, blends medical research with accessible writing, simplifying complex anatomy for a better understanding and appreciation of human anatomy.
Della Barnes, MS Anatomy
Last updated:
24/01/2026 Della Barnes, MS Anatomy
UX/UI Designer at - AdobeDella Barnes, an MS Anatomy graduate, blends medical research with accessible writing, simplifying complex anatomy for a better understanding and appreciation of human anatomy.
The auricle, or the visible outer part of the ear, is the shell-shaped cartilagenous structure that helps collect sound and direct it into the ear canal. While it is mostly known for its distinctive folds and contours, the auricle also has a small set of muscles attached to it. These are called the auricular muscles.
Anatomy & Structure of the Auricle & Its Muscles
The muscles are divided into two groups based on their origin and attachments:
- Extrinsic muscles: Arise from the scalp and insert onto the auricle
- Intrinsic muscles: Lie entirely within the auricular cartilage
Before discussing these muscles in detail, it is important to outline the major parts of the auricle itself, as understanding its landmarks makes the distinction between the two groups clearer.
Parts of the Auricle (External Ear)
The flexible cartilagenous part of the auricle is made up of folds, ridges, and depressions that help capture sound waves and send them into the auditory canal. These structures each have specific names:
Ridges, elevations & rims
- Helix: The cartilagenous outer rim of the auricle
- Crus of the helix: The front end of the helix that extends toward the ear canal
- Antihelix: The second, Y-shaped, prominent ridge parallel to the helix
- Superior crus of the antihelix: The upper arm of the antihelix
- Inferior crus of the antihelix: The lower arm of the antihelix
- Scapha: The groove between helix and antihelix
- Tragus: The small projection in front of the ear canal
- Antitragus: The small bump opposite the tragus, just above the lobule
- Lobule/earlobe: The fleshy lower portion of the auricle
Depressions & openings
- Concha: The primary hollow of the ear
- Cymba conchae: The upper narrow end of the concha
- Fossa triangularis: The area between the inferior and superior crura of the antihelix
- External auditory meatus: The opening of the ear canal
- Intertragic incisure: The notch between the tragus and antitragus
List of the Auricular Muscles With Anatomy & Functions
A total of nine muscles have attachments in the auricle, including six intrinsic muscles and three extrinsic muscles. In humans, these muscles produce only minimal or imperceptible movements and are therefore considered largely vestigial. In most other mammals, however, the same muscles are better developed to help the ears pivot or turn toward sounds.
Here are their names, location, and basic anatomy:
| Name | Origin | Insertion | Action | Innervation | Blood Supply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Intrinsic Muscles | |||||
| Helicis major | Spine of the helix | Anterior margin of the helix, just where it curves | Maintaining the shape of the auricle by pulling on the anterior margin of the ear cartilage | Posterior auricular and temporal branches of the facial nerve | Auricular branches of the posterior auricular, occipital, and superficial temporal arteries |
| Helicis minor | Crus of the helix | Front surface of the spine of helix | Maintaining the shape of the front border of the ear cartilage | Posterior auricular branches of the facial nerve | Auricular branches of the posterior auricular and occipital arteries |
| Tragicus(Or tragus) | Base of the tragus | Top of the tragus | Maintaining the shape of the tragus; in some individuals, it may help widen the opening of the ear canal | Posterior auricular and temporal branches of the facial nerve | Auricular branches of the posterior auricular and occipital arteries |
| Antitragicus | Base of the antitragus | Cauda helicis (the tail of the helix) and the antihelix region | Maintaining the shape of the auricle by pulling the antihelix and cauda helicis together | Posterior auricular and temporal branches of the facial nerve | Auricular branches of the posterior auricular and superficial temporal arteries |
| Transverse auricular muscle | Cranial surface of the eminence of conchae | Cranial surface of the prominence on the auricle that corresponds with the scapha, across from the origin | Supports the cranial surface of the auricle and helps preserve its shape | Posterior auricular and temporal branches of the facial nerve | Auricular branches of the posterior auricular artery |
| Oblique auricular muscle | Cranial surface of the eminence of conchae | Cranial surface of the prominece just above the eminence of conchae | Maintains the contour of the cranial surface of the auricle | Posterior auricular and temporal branches of the facial nerve | Auricular branches of the posterior auricular artery |
Extrinsic Muscles | |||||
| Anterior auricular muscle | Epicranial aponeurosis | The spine of the helix | Pulling the auricle forward | Temporal branches of the facial nerve | Auricular branches of the posterior auricular artery, and anterior auricular branches of the superficial temporal artery |
| Superior auricular muscle | Epicranial aponeurosis | Upper part of the cranial surface of the auricle | Pulling the auricle upward | Temporal branches of the facial nerve | Auricular branches of the posterior auricular artery and anterior auricular branches of the superficial temporal artery |
| Posterior auricular muscle | The mastoid part of the temporal bone | Eminence of the concha at the posterior surface of the auricle | Pulling the auricle backward | Posterior auricular branch of the facial nerve | Auricular branches of the posterior auricular artery |
All the arteries supplying these muscles are branches of the external carotid artery, while all the nerve branches come from the facial nerve (CN VII).
Purpose of the Auricular Muscles
Although they are typically labeled vestigial in humans, their structure and connection with the facial nerve remain well preserved, showing that they remain functionally connected to auditory and orienting pathways. Modern studies demonstrate that these muscles still activate reflexively during attentive listening or acoustic stimuli, indicating that their neural circuits have been preserved. This shows them to be useful as anatomical landmarks in neurophysiological research, even though their visible movement is minimal.
References
- Auricular Muscles: Elsevier.com
- The External Ear: TeachMeAnatomy.info
- Auricular Muscles: ScienceDirect.com
- Outer Ear: Kenhub.com
Della Barnes, an MS Anatomy graduate, blends medical research with accessible writing, simplifying complex anatomy for a better understanding and appreciation of human anatomy.
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