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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]

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)

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f 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.

[:0-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f 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.

[2] 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.

[3] 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.

[4] 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.

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