Auricle; Pinna

The auricle is the most visible part of the ear and forms part of the external ear. It is much more mobile in animals than in humans, which explains the presence of more numerous and more developed muscles.

It is supported by a conical cartilage, whose small opening is located in front of the external acoustic meatus: this is the auricular cartilage.

Two other cartilages accompany the auricular cartilage: the annular cartilage and the scutiform cartilage.

In humans, only the auricular cartilage is truly present, accompanied by a very small supplementary cartilaginous plate that fits at the entrance of the external acoustic meatus (a remnant of the annular cartilage). The scutiform cartilage, on the other hand, is completely absent in the human species.