The antitragus is a feature of mammalian
ear
In vertebrates, an ear is the organ that enables hearing and (in mammals) body balance using the vestibular system. In humans, the ear is described as having three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. The outer ear co ...
anatomy.
In humans, it is a small
tubercle
In anatomy, a tubercle (literally 'small tuber', Latin for 'lump') is any round nodule, small eminence, or warty outgrowth found on external or internal organs of a plant or an animal.
In plants
A tubercle is generally a wart-like projectio ...
on the visible part of the ear, the
auricle. The antitragus is located just above the
earlobe
The human earlobe (''lobulus auriculae''), the lower portion of the outer ear, is composed of tough areolar and adipose connective tissues, lacking the firmness and elasticity of the rest of the auricle (the external structure of the ear). In ...
and points
anteriorly
Standard anatomical terms of location are used to describe unambiguously the anatomy of humans and other animals. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek language, Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. Thi ...
. It is separated from the
tragus by the
intertragic notch.
The
antitragicus muscle, an
intrinsic muscle of the ear, arises from the outer part of the antitragus.
The antitragus can be much larger in some other species, most notably
bat
Bats are flying mammals of the order Chiroptera (). With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight than most birds, flying with their very long spread-out ...
s.
The antitragus can be pierced.
Additional images
Image:Gray906.png, The muscles of the auricula
Image:Earcov.JPG, Left human ear
In vertebrates, an ear is the organ that enables hearing and (in mammals) body balance using the vestibular system. In humans, the ear is described as having three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. The outer ear co ...
File:Slide2COR.JPG, External ear. Right auricle. Lateral view.
See also
*
Antitragus piercing
An antitragus piercing is a perforation of the outer ear cartilage for the purpose of inserting and wearing a piece of jewelry. It is placed in the antitragus, a piece of cartilage opposite the ear canal. Overall, the piercing has characteristics s ...
References
External links
*
* () (#6)
Diagram at bodymodforums.com
Ear
Human body
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