Antitragicus

The antitragicus is an intrinsic muscle of the outer ear.

Antitragicus
The muscles of the ear (antitragicus visible at bottom center).
Details
Origin	Outer part of the antitragus
Insertion	Cauda helicis and antihelix
Artery	Auricular branch of superficial temporal and auricular branches of posterior auricular artery
Nerve	Facial nerve
Actions	Modifies the auricular shape
Identifiers
Latin	musculus antitragicus
TA98	A15.3.01.042
TA2	2098
FMA	48980
Anatomical terms of muscle [edit on Wikidata]

In human anatomy, the antitragicus arises from the outer part of the antitragus, and is inserted into the cauda helicis (or tail of the helix) and antihelix.^[1][2]

The function of the muscle is to adjusts the shape of the ear by pulling the antitragus and cauda helicis towards each other. While the muscle modifies the auricular shape only minimally in the majority of individuals, this action could increase the opening into the external acoustic meatus in some.^[1]

The helicis minor is developmentally derived from the second pharyngeal arch.^[1]

Additional images

• 
  Anatomy of human ear

See also

• Intrinsic muscles of external ear