{{Short description|Muscle of the outer ear}} {{Infobox muscle | Name = Antitragicus | Latin = musculus antitragicus | Image = Musculusantitragicus.png | Caption = The muscles of the ear (antitragicus visible at bottom center). | Image2 = | Caption2 = | Origin = Outer part of the antitragus | Insertion = Cauda helicis and antihelix | Blood = Auricular branch of superficial temporal and auricular branches of posterior auricular artery | Nerve = Facial nerve | Action = Modifies the auricular shape | Antagonist = }} The '''antitragicus''' is an intrinsic muscle of the outer ear.
In human anatomy, the antitragicus arises from the outer part of the antitragus, and is inserted into the cauda helicis (or tail of the helix) and antihelix.<ref name="AnatomyExpert">{{Cite web|url=http://www.anatomyexpert.com/structure_detail/5984/ |publisher=AnatomyExpert |title=Antitragus |accessdate=9 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510045028/http://www.anatomyexpert.com/structure_detail/5984/ |archivedate=10 May 2013 }}</ref><ref name="Gray1918">{{Cite web|url=http://www.bartleby.com/107/pages/page1035.html|publisher=Bartleby.com|title=Henry Gray (1825–1861). Anatomy of the Human Body. 1918.|accessdate=9 March 2013}}</ref>
The function of the muscle is to adjusts the shape of the ear by pulling the antitragus and cauda helicis towards each other. 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 in some.<ref name="AnatomyExpert" />
The helicis minor is developmentally derived from the second pharyngeal arch.<ref name="AnatomyExpert" />
==Additional images== {{Gallery |Image:Gray904.png|Anatomy of human ear }}
==See also== * Intrinsic muscles of external ear
==References== {{Gray's}} * {{cite journal |vauthors=Bennett S, Dagash H, McArthur P | title = The role of the antitragicus muscle in plical folding of the pinna. | journal = Plast Reconstr Surg | volume = 115 | issue = 5 | pages = 1266–8 | year = 2005 | pmid = 15809584 | doi = 10.1097/01.PRS.0000156773.69631.52| s2cid = 12473176 }} {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20130510045028/http://www.anatomyexpert.com/structure_detail/5984/ AnatomyExpert.com]
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Category:Ear Category:Muscles of the head and neck
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