Auricle; Pinna

The auricle of the outer ear, or Pinna, is the visible part of the ear; it is infinitely more mobile than the animals in Men and is equiped therefore with more numerous and complex muscles.

It is supported by a cartilage arranged in a cone, whose small opening is placed in front of the external acoustic meatus: it is the auricular cartilage, that is the only one present in Men with a very little complementary cartilaginous blade that fits the entry of the external acoustic meatus: it is the vestige of a more complete annular cartilage that is constant in domestic Mammals. These animals also have a third cartilage, called scutiform, that is totally missing in the human specie.