The transverse muscle of the auricle lies on the back (cranial) surface of the ear, bridging the bulge of the concha and the bulge of the scapha. Its scattered fibres are partly tendinous and form one of the two intrinsic muscles found on the back of the ear. In humans it has no useful function.
| Origin | Eminence of the concha on the cranial (back) surface of the auricle |
|---|---|
| Insertion | Eminence of the scapha on the cranial surface of the auricle |
| Nerve Supply | Posterior auricular nerve (facial nerve, CN VII) |
| Blood Supply | Posterior auricular artery |
| Actions |
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|---|
In theory it draws the concha toward the scapha, slightly changing the curvature of the auricle, but in humans this effect is negligible.
This muscle lies in the field of dissection for otoplasty, where the back of the ear is exposed to reshape the antihelix or set back the concha, and for harvesting conchal cartilage for grafts. It is routinely divided or excised with the overlying soft tissue during these operations. Its supply from the posterior auricular nerve and artery runs in the same plane, and the posterior auricular artery is an important vessel for skin flaps behind the ear.
Not palpable; it lies deep to the skin on the back of the auricle.
A common congenital shape variation in which the antihelix fold is underdeveloped or the concha is deep, making the ear stand out; it is corrected by otoplasty through the back of the ear.
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