The tragicus, also called the tragus muscle or Valsalva muscle,[1] is an intrinsic muscle of the outer ear.

Tragicus
The muscles of the auricula. (Tragicus visible at bottom right.)
Details
OriginBase of the tragus
InsertionApex of the tragus
ArteryAuricular branches of posterior auricular and auricular branch of occipital arteries
NerveFacial nerve
ActionsIncrease the opening of the external acoustic meatus
Identifiers
Latinmusculus tragicus
TA98A15.3.01.039
TA22095
FMA48974
Anatomical terms of muscle

It is a short, flattened vertical band on the lateral surface of the tragus.[1]

While the muscle modifies the auricular shape only minimally in the majority of individuals, this action could increase the opening of the external acoustic meatus in some.[2]

Additional images

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See also

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References

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  This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1035 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. ^ a b "Definition: 'Tragius (muscle)'". MediLexicon International Ltd. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  2. ^ "Tragicus". AnatomyExpert. Archived from the original on 21 July 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
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