What is the pinna?
The pinna is a funnel-shaped fold of skin supported by an elastic cartilage called the auricular cartilage. The fold of skin adheres particularly tightly to the cartilage at the front of the ear.
The lowest section of the conch, the earlobe (lobus auriculae), contains no cartilage. It consists only of fatty tissue and the surrounding skin.
The skin of the auricle is thin and low in fat, and contains sebaceous and sweat glands. Firm hairs (tragi) may grow at the entrance to the external auditory canal.
Function of the auricle
Anatomy of the pinna
The pinna consists of the auricular cartilage, surrounding skin, ligaments and some rudimentary muscles. The conchal cartilage merges with the auricular cartilage at the entrance (isthmus) to the external auditory canal.
The auricle may have a “Darwinian bump” (tuberculum auriculae) at the upper posterior margin of the auricular rim, corresponding to the tip of animal ears. Muscles extend from the skull to the auricle, which can displace it:
The anterior ear muscle (Musculus auricularis anterior) pulls the auricle forward, the superior ear muscle (Musculus auricularis superior) pulls it upward, and the posterior ear muscle (Musculus auricularis posterior) pulls it backward.
The relief of the auricle
The relief of the auricle consists of a prominent, curled free edge (helix) and an inner fold (anthelix), which frames the actual auricle (concha). The anthelix runs parallel to the helix and divides into two legs (crus superius anthelicis and crus inferius anthelicis) in the upper region. The helix and anthelix are separated by a recess (scapha).
The auricular cavity (concha) is separated by an outgrowth of the helix into two parts, an upper and a lower one. From the lower one, there is a transition into the external auditory canal. Here are also the auricle (tragus) and opposite the antitragus.
What problems can the auricle cause?
There are congenital malformations of the auricle such as a lop ear (Aztec ear).
A rash with many small blisters on the ear can indicate an infection with the herpes zoster virus (shingles). This clinical picture is called zoster oticus by doctors. It is quite painful and can cause hearing and balance problems and even paralysis of the facial muscles.
Congenital ear cysts or fistulas can cause abscesses on and in the ear.
Trauma (accidents, injuries, etc.) can cause bruising of the ear. This is when blood collects between the cartilage and skin of the pinna. Because this often happens in sports such as boxing or wrestling, doctors also speak of boxer’s ear, wrestler’s ear or cauliflower ear.
Metastases from tumors can occur on the pinna, earlobe and ear cartilage.
