| Anterior auricular muscle | |
|---|---|
 Face and neck muscles. Anterior auricular muscle shown in red. | |
 The muscles of the auricula. Anterior auricular is at right (indicated by the red arrow). | |
| Details | |
| Origin | temporal fascia |
| Insertion | major helix (ear) |
| Artery | posterior auricular artery |
| Nerve | temporal branch of facial nerve |
| Actions | pulls ear forward |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | Musculus auricularis anterior |
| TA98 | A04.1.03.020 |
| TA2 | 2089 |
| FMA | 46856 |
| Anatomical terms of muscle | |
The anterior auricular muscle, the smallest of the three auricular muscles, is thin and fan-shaped, and its fibers are pale and indistinct. It arises from the lateral edge of the epicranial aponeurosis, and its fibers converge to be inserted into a projection on the front of the helix.
Structure
The anterior auricular muscle arises from the lateral edge of the epicranial aponeurosis.[1] It inserts into a projection on the front of the helix.[1]
Nerve supply
The anterior auricular muscle is supplied is supplied by the temporal branch of the facial nerve (VII).[2][3] It may also receive some small branches from the auriculotemporal nerve, a branch of the mandibular nerve, itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve (V).[4]
Relations
The anterior auricular muscle is the smallest of the three auricular muscles.[1]
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.[1]
Function
The anterior auricular muscle draws the auricle of the outer ear upwards and forwards.[1] This is a very subtle movement in most people, although some people can wiggle their ears.[1]
See also
Additional images
Auricula in context.
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1035 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Niamtu, Joseph (2018). "8 - Cosmetic Otoplasty and Related Ear Surgery". Cosmetic Facial Surgery (2nd ed.). Edinburgh: Elsevier. pp. 473–532. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-39393-5.00008-X. ISBN 978-0-323-39402-4. OCLC 976037123.
- ↑ Barral, Jean Pierre; Croibier, Alain (2009). "19 - Facial nerve". Manual therapy for the cranial nerves. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone / Elsevier. pp. 153–166. doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-3100-7.50022-7. ISBN 978-0-7020-3736-8. OCLC 460904284.
- ↑ Rea, Paul (2016). "2 - Head". Essential clinically applied anatomy of the peripheral nervous system in the head and neck. Amsterdam: Academic Press, Elsevier Science. pp. 21–130. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-803633-4.00002-8. ISBN 0-12-803664-8. OCLC 939866688.
- ↑ Barral, Jean-Pierre; Croibier, Alain (2009). "25 - Ear". Manual Therapy for the Cranial Nerves. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone / Elsevier. pp. 227–238. doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-3100-7.50028-8. ISBN 978-0-7020-3736-8. OCLC 460904284.
