The are the three muscles surrounding the ''
Auricula '' or outer ear.
- The ''Auricularis anterior'' (''Attrahens aurem''), the smallest of the three, is thin and fan-shaped, and its fibers are pale and indistinct. It arises from the lateral edge of the Galea Aponeurotica , and its fibers converge to be inserted into a projection on the front of the Helix .
- The ''Auricularis superior'' (''Attolens aurem''), the largest of the three, is also thin and fan-shaped. Its fibers arise from the Galea Aponeurotica , and converge to be inserted by a thin, flattened Tendon into the upper part of the Cranial surface of the auricula.
- The ''Auricularis posterior'' (''Retrahens aurem'') consists of two or three fleshy Fasciculi , which arise from the mastoid portion of the Temporal Bone by short aponeurotic fibers. They are inserted into the lower part of the cranial surface of the Concha .
In other animals these muscles serve to swivel the auricula to point in the direction of interesting sounds; in humans all they can manage is a feeble wiggle.
Some sources identify a "Temporoparietalis muscle" as a distinct muscle above the Auricularis superior.
- (auricularis)
- (auricularis)
- (temporoparietalis)
- (temporoparietalis)
