Superficial scutuloauricular muscle

The scutuloauriculares superficiales muscles are a groupe of muscles forming superficial group extending from the scutiform cartilage to the concha of auricle. There are four of them: the scutuloauricular superficialis dorsalis muscle, the  scutuloauricular superficialis intermedium muscle, the scutuloauricular superficialis ventralis muscle and the scutuloauricular superficialis accessorii muscle. Together, they help to orientate the intertragic notch rostrally.

Origin: scutiform cartilage

Insertion: concha of auricle

Artery: rostral auricular branch of the superficial temporal artery

Nerve: dorsal and ventral muscles: auriculopalpebral nerve / intermediate and accessory muscles: caudal auricular nerve

Action: all theses muscles turn the intertragic notch rostrally

Antagonist: Cervicoauricularis muscles

Definition:

The scutuloauriculares superficiales muscles group consists of four muscles:

• The scutuloauricular superficialis dorsalis muscle is the continuation of the frontoscutularis (carnivore, pig) and interscutularis muscles (horse), and extends long along the rostral border of the auricle.

• The scutuloauricular superficialis intermedium muscle is poorly isolatable from the termination of the cervicoauricularis superficialis muscle. 

• The scutuloauricular superficialis ventralis muscle is broad and short. It doesn’t exist in ruminants.

• The scutuloauricular superficialis accessorii muscle is thin at its origin but spreads broadly over the surface of the auricle, between the insertions  of the cervicoauricularis superficialis and parietoauricularis muscles.