Auricle (anatomy)

The auricle or auricula is the visible part of the ear that is outside the head. It is also called the pinna (Latin for 'wing' or 'fin', pl.: pinnae), a term that is used more in zoology.

"Auricle" is the former name of the atrium (heart) and is still used to describe this chamber in some other animals

Auricle

posterior auricular, anterior auricular

Trigeminal nerve, great auricular nerve, lesser occipital nerve

To pre- and post-auricular nodes, nodes of parotid and cervical chains

auricula

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antihelix

is below the tragus

Antitragus

Aperture is the entrance to the ear canal

Auricular is the depression behind the ear next to the head

sulcus

Concha is the hollow next to the ear canal

Conchal angle is the angle that the back of the concha makes with the side of the head

Crus of the helix is just above the tragus

Cymba conchae is the narrowest end of the concha

is the ear canal

External auditory meatus

Fossa triangularis is the depression in the fork of the antihelix

is the folded over outside edge of the ear

Helix

, or intertragic incisure, or intertragal notch, is the space between the tragus and antitragus

Incisura anterior auris

(lobule)

Lobe

Scapha, the depression or groove between the helix and the anthelix

Tragus

traumatic injury

[5]

infection

[6]

mole, birthmark^[6]

wart

including keloids^[6]

scars

^[7]

cyst

^[7]

skin tag

frostbite^[6]

sunburn

often from a poorly fitting hearing aid^[6]

pressure ulcer

absent pinna^[7]

anotia

underdeveloped pinna^[7]

microtia

a pinna covered beneath the skin of the scalp^[5]

cryptotia

Stahl's deformity, pointed pinna due to an extra fold of cartilage

[5]

cupped or constricted ear deformity, a hooded superior helix

[5]

^[8]

preauricular pit

^[8]

preauricular tag

protuberance on the anterior helix^[6]

Darwin's tubercle

including hypertrichosis lanuginosa acquisita, a hairy pinna^[6]

hypertrichosis

post-traumatic cartilage deformity^[6]

cauliflower ear

nodule on the pinna related to gout^[6]

tophus

(Winkler's nodule), a nodule initiated by solar damage^[6]

chondrodermatitis nodularis chronica helicis

and cutaneous horn, premalignant lesions caused by solar damage^[6]

actinic keratosis

benign and malignant , including tumors, keratoacanthoma, carcinoma^[6]

neoplasm

There are various visible ear abnormalities:

In other species[edit]

Visible pinnae are a common trait in mammals, particularly placental mammals and marsupials, but are poorly developed or absent in monotremes. Marine mammals usually have either reduced pinnae or no pinnae due to sound travelling differently in water than in air, as well as the fact that auricles would potentially slow them down in the water. Skin impressions show large, mouse-like pinnae in Spinolestes.

External pinnae are absent in other tetrapod groups such as reptiles, amphibians, and birds.

Left human auricle

External ear. Right auricle. Lateral view.

Male right auricle

for pierced ears

Earrings

Auriculotherapy

drtbalu otolaryngology online

Media related to Auricles (anatomy) at Wikimedia Commons