The antitragus is a feature of mammalian
ear
An ear is the organ that enables hearing and, in mammals, body balance using the vestibular system. In mammals, the ear is usually described as having three parts—the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. The outer ear consists of ...
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 projection ...
on the visible part of the ear, the
pinna. The antitragus is located just above the
earlobe and points
anteriorly. 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 mammals of the order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". 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 ...
s.
The antitragus is sometimes pierced.
Additional images
Image:Gray906.png, The muscles of the auricula.
Image:Earcov.JPG, Left human ear
An ear is the organ that enables hearing and, in mammals, body balance using the vestibular system. In mammals, the ear is usually described as having three parts—the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. The outer ear consists of ...
File:Slide2COR.JPG, External ear. Right auricle.Lateral view.
See also
*
Antitragus piercing
References
External links
*
* () (#6)
Diagram at bodymodforums.com
Ear
Human body
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