Henry's pocket
In animal anatomy, Henry's pocket, more formally known as a cutaneous marginal pouch, is a fold of skin forming an open pouch on the lower posterior part of the external ear.[1] The pocket is situated in the location occupied by the antitragus in the human ear. It occurs in a number of species, but is particularly noticeable on the domestic cat, Felis catus, as well as some dog breeds.
The pocket is of unknown function, and it is unclear if any exists.[1] However, one hypothesis is that it aids in the detection of high-pitched sounds by attenuating lower pitches, especially when the ear is angled, common for a cat when hunting. Another hypothesis is that the flap protects and provides reinforcement for the notch in the ear at that location.
The pocket is a common area for parasites to gather, and should be checked during a veterinary examination.
References
- ^ a b August, John R. (3 November 2009). Consultations in Feline Internal Medicine, Volume 6. Elsevier Health Sciences. pp. 319–321. ISBN 1-4377-0188-4.
 | This vertebrate anatomy–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |