Auricular muscles

As ear muscles (musculi auriculares ) is called striated muscle that allows the mobility of the external ear ( "ear Game"). It belongs to the skin and muscle is innervated by the facial nerve ( cranial nerve VII).

Comparing anatomically possible to distinguish four groups of muscles in mammals:

  • Front ear muscles (musculi auriculares rostrales )
  • Upper ear muscles (musculi auriculares dorsal )
  • Posterior ear muscles (musculi caudal auricular ) and
  • Lower ear muscles (musculi auriculares ventral ) musculus styloauricularis
  • Musculus parotidoauricularis.

In a broader sense, use the two located in the middle ear skeletal muscles - the tensor tympani and stapedius muscle - are expected to ear muscles. The former is, however, not innervated by the facial nerve, but by a branch of the mandibular nerve ( nerve tensor tympani ).

Nerve fiber Posterior auricular muscle
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