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.
Anterior auricular muscle | |
---|---|
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 [edit on Wikidata] |
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]
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]
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]
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]
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1035 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)