Antitragicus

Antitragicus is a small muscle in the human ear, specifically located in the outer part of the ear known as the auricle or pinna. It is one of the six auricular muscles that control the movements of the auricle. The antitragicus muscle is named for its location near the antitragus, a small prominence of cartilage opposite the tragus.

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The term "antitragicus" is derived from the Greek words "anti-", meaning "against", and "tragos", meaning "goat". This is likely due to the antitragus's resemblance to a goat's beard.

Anatomy[edit | edit source]

The antitragicus muscle originates from the outer part of the antitragus and inserts into the tail of the helix and the cauda helicis. It is innervated by the facial nerve, specifically the posterior auricular branch. The muscle's primary function is to assist in moving the auricle in various directions.

Clinical significance[edit | edit source]

Abnormalities or damage to the antitragicus muscle can result in limited movement of the auricle, which may affect the ability to localize sound. However, because humans primarily rely on other cues for sound localization, such impairments are typically not debilitating.

Related terms[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

List of muscles of the human body

Antitragicus Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? Need help finding a doctor or specialist anywhere in the world? Explore our world directory. WikiMD's DocFinder can assist you in locating millions of physicians.	Medical Knowledge Access the latest research - Most recent articles Ongoing trials.