Auricular

Auricular is an adjective relating to the ear. In anatomical usage, it most often refers to the auricle, the external part of the ear also known as the pinna. The term comes from Latin auricula, a diminutive of auris (ear).

The auricle is a cartilaginous framework covered by skin, with landmarks such as the helix, antihelix, concha, tragus, antitragus, and lobule. It functions to collect and funnel sound into the external auditory canal and to aid in sound localization by shaping the sound’s spectral cues. In humans, the muscles that move the auricle are largely vestigial, whereas in other animals they can significantly adjust ear position.

Innervation of the auricle is mixed. Sensory supply to the skin is primarily via the great auricular nerve (C2–C3) and the auriculotemporal nerve (a branch of V3). The motor control of the auricular muscles, when present, is provided by branches of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII).

Clinical notes related to the auricle include developmental anomalies such as microtia (underdeveloped pinna) and anotia (absence of the pinna). Traumatic deformation can lead to cauliflower ear, a condition common in contact sports due to hematoma and subsequent cartilage damage. Other conditions include auricular hematoma, perichondritis, and chondritis. Surgical considerations may involve otoplasty to modify the shape or position of the auricle.