Superior auricular muscle

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 [edit on Wikidata]

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.

See also

• Anterior auricular muscle
• Posterior auricular muscle