AURICLE 47 



The musculus obliquus auricula is composed of some vertical fasciculi 

 bridging across the depression which corresponds to the eminence of the 

 lower limb of the antihelix. 



Dissection. After the auricle and its muscles and ligaments 

 have been dissected and studied, follow the superficial temporal 

 vessels and the auriculo-temporal nerve upwards from the point 

 where they emerge from the upper end of the parotid gland to 

 their terminal distribution in the scalp. Next, pull the auricle 

 forwards and trace the posterior auricular nerve to its termina- 

 tion in the occipitalis muscle, and in the intrinsic and extrinsic 

 muscles of the auricle, and the posterior auricular artery to its 

 anastomoses with the occipital and superficial temporal arteries. 

 After that part of the dissection is completed, turn to the anterior 

 part of the scalp and find the medial and lateral branches of the 

 supra-orbital nerve. The medial branch pierces the fibres of 

 the frontalis and the lateral branch pierces the galea aponeuro- 

 tica a little further back. Trace both branches backwards, 

 through the superficial fascia, as far as possible ; they extend to 

 the level of the lambdoid suture. Then secure the supra- 

 trochlear nerve, which pierces the frontalis above the medial 

 margin of the orbit, and trace it upwards to its termination. 

 With the branches of the supra-orbital nerve are branches of 

 the supra-orbital artery, and the supra-trochlear nerve is accom- 

 panied by the frontal branch of the ophthalmic artery. 



When the nerves and vessels in the anterior region have been 

 cleaned, the head should be turned well over to the opposite side, 

 and the branches of the occipital artery and the greater occipital 

 nerve should be sought for in the posterior region ; they radiate 

 upwards and forwards from the upper extremity of the trapezius. 

 After they have been secured, the occipitalis muscle must be 

 cleaned. It springs from the lateral part of the superior nuchal 

 line, and after a short course upwards and forwards, it terminates 

 in the galea aponeurotica. The remains of the superficial fascia 

 should now be removed from the surface of the galea aponeuro- 

 tica (O.T. epicranial aponeurosis), and then the dissector should 

 make a survey of the vessels and nerves which are met with in 

 the scalp and in the superficial fascia of the temporal region. 







Nerves and Vessels of the Scalp and of the Superficial 

 Temporal Region. Branches of ten nerves are found, on each 

 side, in the superficial fascia of the region which lies above 

 the supra-orbital margin, the zygomatic arch and the superior 

 nuchal line. Five of the ten lie mainly anterior to the auricle 

 and five posterior to it ; and of each group four are sensory 

 and one is motor. The four sensory nerves anterior to the 

 auricle are all branches of the trigeminal nerve. They are 

 the supra-trochlear and supra-orbital branches of the first or 

 ophthalmic division \ the zygomatico- temporal branch of the 

 maxillary or second division ; and the auriculo-temporal branch 

 of the mandibular or third division. The motor nerve is the 

 temporal branch of the facial nerve. 



