Tragus
The auricula. Lateral surface.
Gray's	subject #229 1034

The tragus is a small pointed eminence of the external ear, situated in front of the concha, and projecting backward over the meatus. Its name comes from the Greek: tragos, goat, and is descriptive of its general covering on its under surface with a tuft of hair, resembling a goat's beard.

Contents 1 Related facts 2 Additional images 3 See also 4 External links

[edit] Related facts

• Because the tragus faces rearwards, it aids in collecting sounds from behind. These sounds are delayed more than sounds arriving from the front, assisting the brain to sense front vs. rear sound sources.
• Earbuds (a type of earphone) are held against the concha by the tragus.
• Some people prefer to push their tragus over the entrance of the auditory canal rather than putting their index finger in it or placing their palm over the entire ear when blocking out sound.
• Tragus piercing is popular in North American and European culture, and often a ring or barbell is inserted. The antitragus (opposite the tragus) is also sometimes pierced.
• A beard that runs from ear to ear is sometimes called a tragus.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Additional images

Horizontal section through left ear; upper half of section.

[edit] See also

• Tragal pressure

[edit] External links

• MedlinePlus Image 1126
• lesson3 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (externalear) (#7)

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.

v • d • e Sensory system: Auditory and Vestibular systems (TA A15.3, GA 10.1029) Outer ear Pinna (Helix, Antihelix, Tragus, Antitragus, Earlobe) • Ear canal • Auricular muscles Eardrum (Umbo, Pars flaccida) Middle ear Tympanic cavity Labyrinthine wall/medial: Oval window · Round window • Secondary tympanic membrane • Prominence of facial canal • Promontory of tympanic cavity Membranous wall/lateral Mastoid wall/posterior: Mastoid cells • Aditus to mastoid antrum • Pyramidal eminence Carotid wall/anterior Tegmental wall/roof: Epitympanic recess Jugular wall/floor Ossicles Malleus (Neck of malleus, Superior ligament of malleus, Lateral ligament of malleus, Anterior ligament of malleus) · Incus (Superior ligament of incus, Posterior ligament of incus) · Stapes (Anular ligament of stapes) Muscles Stapedius · Tensor tympani Eustachian tube Bony part of pharyngotympanic tube · Cartilage of pharyngotympanic tube (Torus tubarius) Inner ear/ (membranous labyrinth, bony labyrinth) Auditory system Cochlear labyrinth General cochlea Scala vestibuli • Helicotrema • Scala tympani • Modiolus • Cochlear cupula Perilymphatic space Perilymph • Cochlear aqueduct Cochlear duct / scala media Reissner's/vestibular membrane • Basilar membrane Endolymph • Stria vascularis • Spiral ligament Organ of Corti: Stereocilia • Tectorial membrane • Sulcus spiralis (externus, internus) • Spiral limbus Vestibular system/ Vestibular labyrinth Static/translations/vestibule/endolymphatic duct: Utricle (Macula) · Saccule (Macula, Endolymphatic sac) · Kinocilium · Otolith • Vestibular aqueduct • Canalis reuniens Kinetic/rotations: Semicircular canals (Superior, Posterior, Horizontal) • Ampullary cupula • Ampullae (Crista ampullaris) ear navs: anat/pathways/physio/dev, noncongen/congen, eponymous signs, proc

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