auricular cartilage

While the muscle modifies the auricular shape only minimally in the majority of individuals, it could help flatten the cranial profile of the auricular cartilage.

The cartilage tissue grafts for such extensive reconstructions usually are harvested either from the ear (auricular cartilage) or from the rib cage (costal cartilage).

Because it is skin-covered cartilage, with only a thin padding of connective tissue, rough handling of the ear can cause enough swelling to jeopardize the blood-supply to its framework, the auricular cartilage.