Auricle Flashcards

Study the auricle's cartilaginous framework, surface landmarks, intrinsic and extrinsic muscles, nerve supply, blood vessels, and clinical anatomy.

Card 1 of 30Question

What is the auricle?

The visible external portion of the ear, also called the pinna.

In This Section

1. What is the auricle?

The visible external portion of the ear, also called the pinna.

2. What is the primary auditory function of the auricle?

To collect sound waves and direct them toward the external acoustic meatus.

3. What type of cartilage forms most of the auricular framework?

Elastic cartilage covered by perichondrium and skin.

4. Which part of the auricle lacks a cartilaginous framework?

The lobule, or earlobe, which contains fibrofatty connective tissue.

5. What is the helix?

The curved outer rim of the auricle.

6. What is the antihelix?

A curved cartilaginous ridge located medial to the helix.

7. What is the triangular fossa of the auricle?

The depression between the superior and inferior crura of the antihelix.

8. What is the scapha?

The narrow depression between the helix and antihelix.

9. What is the concha of the auricle?

The deep central depression that leads into the external acoustic meatus.

10. What are the two subdivisions of the auricular concha?

The cymba conchae superiorly and cavum conchae inferiorly.

11. Which cartilaginous ridge separates the cymba conchae from the cavum conchae?

The crus of the helix.

12. What is the tragus?

A small cartilaginous projection anterior to the opening of the external acoustic meatus.

13. What is the antitragus?

A small cartilaginous elevation opposite the tragus, superior to the lobule.

14. What is the intertragic notch?

The depression separating the tragus from the antitragus.

15. What are the two major groups of auricular muscles?

Intrinsic muscles within the auricle and extrinsic muscles connecting it to the scalp.

16. What are the three extrinsic auricular muscles?

The anterior, superior, and posterior auricular muscles.

17. What is the general function of the intrinsic auricular muscles?

They produce small movements of the auricular cartilage and modify its shape.

18. Which cranial nerve supplies the intrinsic and extrinsic auricular muscles?

The facial nerve (cranial nerve VII).

19. Which nerve supplies sensation to much of the inferior auricle and lobule?

The great auricular nerve, arising from the second and third cervical spinal nerves (C2 and C3).

20. Which nerve supplies sensation to the anterosuperior auricle and tragus?

The auriculotemporal nerve, a branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (V3).

21. Which cervical nerve supplies part of the posterior and superior auricle?

The lesser occipital nerve, primarily from the second cervical spinal nerve (C2).

22. Which cranial nerve contributes sensory fibers to the conchal region of the auricle?

The auricular branch of the vagus nerve (cranial nerve X).

23. Which arteries provide the principal blood supply to the auricle?

The posterior auricular and superficial temporal arteries.

24. Where does venous blood from the auricle primarily drain?

Into the superficial temporal and posterior auricular veins.

25. Which lymph nodes receive lymph from the anterior auricular region?

The superficial parotid, or preauricular, lymph nodes.

26. Which lymph nodes receive lymph from the posterior auricular region?

The mastoid, or posterior auricular, lymph nodes.

27. From which embryonic pharyngeal arches does the auricle develop?

The first and second pharyngeal arches, through six auricular hillocks.

28. What is an auricular hematoma?

A collection of blood between the auricular cartilage and its perichondrium.

29. Why can an untreated auricular hematoma produce cauliflower ear?

Perichondrial separation disrupts cartilage nutrition, leading to necrosis and irregular cartilage remodeling.

30. What is the clinical significance of the auricular cartilage's limited direct blood supply?

The cartilage depends on the perichondrium for nutrition, making it vulnerable to injury and infection.