THE EAR. 



seen to be attached by fibrous tissue to the rough and prominent margin of the 

 external auditory meatus of the temporal bone. The tubular part is cleft in front 

 between the tragus and fore-part of the helix inwards to the bone, the deficiency 

 being filled with fibrous membrane. The whole cartilage may be looked upon as an 

 elongated plate, the lower part of which is folded round in front so as to bring it 

 nearly into contact with the upper part. There is no cartilage in the lobule except 

 at its base, where the caudal process of the ear-cartilage passes into it : otherwise 

 it contains only fat and tough connective tissue. 



Behind the prominence of cartilage which forms the antitragus is a deep notch, 

 separating it from the helix. Behind and below this the ear-cartilage forms a tail-like 

 process descending towards the lobule (caudal process). At the fore part of the pinna, 

 opposite the first bend of the helix, is a small conical projection of the cartilage, 

 called the spine of the helix, to which the anterior ligament is attached. Behind this 

 process is a short vertical slit in the helix ; and on the surface of the tragus is a 

 similar but somewhat longer fissure. A deep fissure (incisura terminalis, Schwalbe) 

 passes back between the commencement of the helix and the tube of the ear, and 



cminentia fosscc 

 triangularis 



cinincntia 

 scaphce 



i 



sulcus anthelicis 

 transversus 



incisura Santorini 



fossa anthelicis 

 eminentia conch ce 



i_ sulcus cruris kelicis 



ponticulus (insertion of 

 post- auricular musde} 



processus posterior 

 processus caudalis 



processus 

 triangularis 



Fig. 82. EAR-CARTILAGE, MESIAL ASPECT. (Schwalbe.) 



another passing outwards and backwards from the deep end of the longitudinal cleft 

 separates the part forming the tragus from the rest of the tube, so that the tube is 

 continuous with the pinna only by means of a narrow isthmus. Other irregular gaps 

 or fissures partially divide the cartilaginous tube transversely. These deficiencies are 

 termed fissures of Santorini. They are usually two in number. These and the other 

 named recesses and prominences of the ear-cartilage are shown in the accompanying 

 figures, and do not require to be further described. The substance of the cartilage 

 is very pliable, and is covered by a firm fibrous perichondrium. Near its attachment 

 to the bone it becomes hyaline. 



Ligaments. Of the ligaments of the pinna, the most important are two, which 

 assist in attaching it to the side of the head. The anterior ligament, broad and 

 strong, extends from the spine of the helix to the root of the zygoma. The 

 posterior ligament fixes the back of the auricle (opposite the concha) to the outer 

 surface of the mastoid process of the temporal bone. A few fibres attach the tragus 

 also to the root of the zygoma. Ligamentous fibres are likewise placed across the 

 fissures and intervals left in the cartilage (intrinsic ligaments). 



