Superior auricular muscle
Muscle that draws the auricle of the outer ear upwards
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The superior auricular muscle is a muscle above the auricle of the outer ear. It originates from the epicranial aponeurosis, and inserts into the upper part of the medial surface of the auricle. It draws the auricle upwards.
| Superior auricular muscle | |
|---|---|
Face and neck muscles. Superior auricular muscle shown in red. | |
 The muscles of the auricula. Superior auricular is at top (indicated by the red arrow). | |
| Details | |
| Origin | Temporal fascia |
| Insertion | Above the auricle of the outer ear |
| Artery | Posterior auricular artery |
| Nerve | Branches to auricular muscle from posterior auricular nerve of facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) |
| Actions | Pulls ear upward |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | musculus auricularis superior |
| TA98 | A04.1.03.021 |
| TA2 | 2090 |
| FMA | 46855 |
| Anatomical terms of muscle | |
Structure
The superior auricular muscle originates from the epicranial aponeurosis.[1] Its fibres converge to be inserted by a thin, flattened tendon into the upper part of the medial surface of the auricle of the outer ear.[1]
It is the largest of the three auriculares muscles.[1] It is thin and fan-shaped.
Nerve supply
The superior auricular muscle is supplied by the temporal branch of the facial nerve (VII).[1][2]
Function
Research on electromyographic signals in humans suggests the superior auricular muscle has a vestigial role linked to attempts to separate different sound sources.[3]
Additional images
Auricula in context. Superior auricular shown in red.
