Pinna (anatomy)

pinnaulous(anatomy)
The auricula. Lateral surface.
Latin	auricula
Gray's	subject #229 1034
Artery	posterior auricular, anterior auricular
Nerve	Trigeminal nerve, Great auricular nerve, Lesser occipital nerve
Lymph	To Pre & Post Auricular Nodes, Nodes of Parotid and Cervical Chains

In animal anatomy, the pinna (Latin for feather) is the visible part of the ear that resides outside of the head (this may also be referred to as the auricle or auricula).

In botany, it can refer to the segments of the leg a pinnate frond blade and is discussed in that section.

Function

The function of the pinna is to collect sound, and perform spectral transformations to incoming sounds which enable the process of vertical localization to take place. It collects sound by acting as a funnel, amplifying the sound and directing it to the auditory canal. While reflecting from the pinna, sound also goes through a filtering process, as well as frequency dependent amplitude modulation which adds directional information to the sound (see sound localization, head-related transfer function, pinna notch). The filtering effect of the human pinna preferentially selects sounds in the frequency range of human speech.

The Fennec Fox uses its distinctive oversized pinnae to radiate excess heat and to amplify the sound of small prey burrowing under the desert sand.

In various species, the pinna can also signal mood and radiate heat.

Amplification

Amplification of sound by the pinna, tympanic membrane and middle ear causes an increase in level of about 10 to 15 dB in a frequency range of 1.5 kHz to 7 kHz. This amplification is an important factor in inner ear trauma resulting from elevated sound levels.

Pinna notch

The pinna works differently for low and high frequency sounds. For low frequencies, it behaves similarly to a reflector dish, directing sounds toward the ear canal. For high frequencies, however, its value is thought to be more sophisticated. While some of the sounds that enter the ear travel directly to the canal, others reflect off the contours of the pinna first: these enter the ear canal at a very slight delay. Such a delay translates into phase cancellation, where the frequency component whose wave period is twice the delay period is virtually eliminated. Neighboring frequencies are dropped significantly. This is known as the pinna notch, where the pinna creates a notch filtering effect.

Anatomy

The diagram shows the shape and location of most these components:

• Anthelix (antihelix) forms a 'Y' shape where the upper parts are:
  • Superior crux (to the left of the fossa triangularis in the diagram)
  • Inferior crux (to the right of the fossa triangularis in the diagram)
• Antitragus is below the tragus
• Aperture is the entrance to the ear canal
• Auricular sulcus is the depression behind the ear next to the head
• Concha is the hollow next to the ear canal
• Conchal angle is the angle that the back of the concha makes with the side of the head
• Crus of the helix is just above the tragus
• Cymba conchae is the narrowest end of the concha
• External auditory meatus is the ear canal
• Fossa triangularis is the depression in the fork of the antihelix
• Helix is the folded over outside edge of the ear
• Incisura anterior auris, or intertragic incisure, or intertragal notch, is the space between the tragus and antitragus
• Lobe (lobule) - attached or free according to a classic single-gene dominance relationship
• Scapha
• Tragus

Embryology

The developing pinna is first noticeable around the sixth week of gestation in the human fetus, developing from six rounded protuberances (the six hillocks of Hiss), which are derived from the first and second branchial arches. These hillocks develop into the folds of the pinna and gradually shift upwards and backwards to their final position on the head. En-route accessory auricles (also known as preauricular tags) may be left behind. The first three hillocks are derived from the 1st branchial arch and form the tragus, crus of the helix, and helix, respectively. Cutaneous sensation to these areas is via the trigeminal nerve, the attendant nerve of the 1st branchial arch. The final three hillocks are derived from the 2nd branchial arch and form the antihelix, antitragus, and lobule, respectively. These portions of the ear are supplied by the cervical plexus and a small portion by the facial nerve. This explains why vesicles are classically seen on the pinna in herpes infections of the facial nerve (Ramsay Hunt syndrome type II).

Abnormalities

There are various visible ear abnormalities:

• Prominent ear (also known as bat ear or wingnut ear) — an ear that protrudes
• Cryptotia (hidden ear) — upper auricular sulcus not visible
• Cup deformity — helical rim is compressed
• Darwinian tubercle (auricular tubercle) — a projection from the helical rim
• Lop ear — the top of the helical rim folded over
• Macrotia (also known as big ears, or hypertrophy of the ears)
• Microtia (small or partially developed ears)
• Preauricular sinus (small holes usually visible from birth at the front of the ears where the pinna joins the head)
• Accessory Auricles (small pieces of skin at the front of the ears where the pinna joins the head, vestigial remnants of the developing ears migration to its final position)
• Rim kinks — a kink of the helical rim
• Selhurst's handle (also known as cup handle) — an ear that can be 50% larger than normal.
• Stahl’s bar (also known as Spock ear) — third crus (in between the superior crux and inferior crux) making the top of the ear pointed
• Zaheer's ear — having a deformed anti-tragus, which appears as a bump, as opposed to a protrusion, which would normally allow the snug insertion of earbud headphones

See also

• Earrings for pierced ears
• Ear stapling

Additional images

• 

  External and middle ear, opened from the front. Right side.

• 

  Left ear

External links

• auricle at eMedicine Dictionary
• drtbalu otolaryngology online