Tragus (ear)
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (January 2011) |
| Tragus | |
|---|---|
 The auricula. Lateral surface. | |
| Identifiers | |
| TA98 | A15.3.01.017 |
| TA2 | 111 |
| FMA | 60998 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
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. The nearby antitragus projects forwards and upwards.
Because the tragus face 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.
Additional images
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Horizontal section through left ear; upper half of section.
See also
External links
- MedlinePlus Image 1126
- lesson3 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (externalear) (#7)
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1034 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
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