# Helicis major

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The **helicis major** (or **large muscle of helix**[1]) is an [intrinsic muscle](/source/Intrinsic_muscles_of_external_ear) of the [outer ear](/source/Outer_ear).

In [human anatomy](/source/Human_anatomy), it is the form of a narrow vertical band situated upon the anterior margin of the [helix](/source/Helix_(ear)), at the point where the helix becomes transverse.[1]

It arises below, from the [spina helicis](/source/Spina_helicis), and is inserted into the anterior border of the helix, just where it is about to curve backward.[2]

The function of the muscle is to adjust the shape of the [ear](/source/Pinna_(anatomy)) by depressing the anterior margin of the ear cartilage. While the muscle modifies the auricular shape only minimally in the majority of individuals, this action could increase the opening into the [external acoustic meatus](/source/External_acoustic_meatus) in some.[2]

The helicis major is developmentally derived from the [second](/source/Second_pharyngeal_arch) [pharyngeal arch](/source/Pharyngeal_arch).[2] It seems that only in [primates](/source/Primates) are the [helicis minor](/source/Helicis_minor) and **helicis major** two distinct muscles.[3]

## See also

- [Intrinsic muscles of external ear](/source/Intrinsic_muscles_of_external_ear)
- [Helicis minor](/source/Helicis_minor)

## References

1. ["Definition: 'Helicis Major (muscle)'"](http://www.medilexicon.com/medicaldictionary.php/?t=56793). MediLexicon International Ltd. Retrieved 9 March 2013.

1. ["Helicis major"](http://www.anatomyexpert.com/structure_detail/5981/). AnatomyExpert. Retrieved 9 March 2013.

1. Diogo, Rui & Wood, Bernard (11 January 2012). [*Comparative Anatomy and Phylogeny of Primate Muscles and Human Evolution*](https://books.google.com/books?id=TvdZlBn83NsC&q=helicis+major&pg=PA371). Taylor & Francis Inc. p. 371. ISBN 978-1-57808-767-9.

## External links

- [AnatomyExpert.com](http://www.anatomyexpert.com/structure_detail/5981/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Helicis major](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicis_major) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicis_major?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.