The tragicus is a short, flat vertical band of muscle lying on the outer surface of the tragus, the small flap of cartilage that projects backward over the entrance to the ear canal. It is an intrinsic auricular muscle and, like the others, is poorly developed in humans. Some anatomists consider that it may once have helped close the ear canal opening.
| Origin | Lateral surface of the tragus, near its base |
|---|---|
| Insertion | Upper part of the lateral surface of the tragus |
| Nerve Supply | Temporal branch of the facial nerve (CN VII) |
| Blood Supply | Anterior auricular branches of the superficial temporal artery |
| Actions |
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Any action is minimal; in theory it pulls on the tragus and may slightly narrow the entrance to the ear canal.
The tragus is used as a cartilage graft donor site in ear and nasal surgery, and tragal cartilage harvesting passes through the area of the tragicus. The tragus is also a common piercing site and a reference point for preauricular skin lesions, sinuses and accessory tags. Tenderness on pressing the tragus is a classic sign of otitis externa, reflecting inflammation of the ear canal skin rather than of the muscle itself.
Not separately palpable; it lies on the outer face of the tragus beneath thin skin.
Infection or inflammation of the external ear canal skin, typically causing pain that is worsened by pressing on the tragus or pulling the ear.
A congenital small pit just in front of the helix and tragus can become repeatedly infected, forming an abscess that may need drainage and later surgical excision.
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