Fun Fact: Auricle

Anatomy def: The auricle is the visible part of an ear. 

Outlander def: Poor Father Ferigault’s missing head appendage!

Learn about the auricle and other features of the ear in Anatomy Lesson #24: Hear, Here – the Ear.

Because auricle sounds very much like oracle, these words are sometimes confused. The following may help keep them straight: we climb the mountain to seek wisdom from the oracle, but we listen to her wise words using our auricles. Got it?

The human ear is a composite of three ears: inner ear, middle ear and outer ear. Each auricle (pl. auricula) resides outside the skull and belongs to the outer ear. Middle and inner ears lie inside the skull.

Like many anatomical structures, the auricle bears more than one name. Thus, it is also known as the pinna (Latin meaning “feather” or “wing”).  Either term works for human anatomy.

Here’s a wee Fun Fact: Like our fingerprints and venous pattern, no two human auricula (pl.) are alike! Although the curved auricle bears 15+ named ridges and troughs, its collective appearance is unique to the owner.

The auricle is tasked with collecting and funneling sound waves toward the ear canal. But, recent studies reveal more: our auricula also amplify and filter sounds waves to preferentially select those in the frequency range of human speech! How awesome is that?

Humans also have three wee muscles that can move each auricle, although our abilities to do so vary greatly. Just compare our ear wiggling with some amazing mammals who can turn their auricula 180 degrees or even one at a time to collect, modulate and funnel sounds waves. We be whimps. <G>

Try This: Ask someone to take a photo of your auricle, then compare with that of another person. Check overall size, earlobe shape, earlobe attachment, ridges and valleys. They will likely be quite different.

Read about the Father’s grizzly wound in big book four, “Drums of Autumn.”  Diana’s description is truly riveting!

Alexandre stirred and moaned. Roger came quickly and knelt by him. He could smell fresh blood, a hot-copper smell he recognized from the slaughtering of the moose. 

“Are you hurt? What have they done?”

The answer to that was quick in coming. He turned the half-conscious priest over, to see blood streaming over face and neck in a shiny red glaze. He snatched the priest’s discarded robe to stanch the wound, pushed back the matted blond hair, and found that the priest’s right ear was missing. Something sharp had taken a patch of skin some three inches square from just behind the jaw, removing both ear and a section of scalp.

See Father Alexandre’s shocking wound sans auricle in Starz ep. 412, Providence. The good Father’s convincing whimpers and moans create a deeply moving scene. Help! Providence needed here! 

The deeply grateful, Outlander Anatomist

Photo credit: Starz

FF Helix

Anatomy Def: Curved outer rim of the pinna of the ear.

Outlander def: Curled edge of the ear flap, designed for kissing, nibbling and stroking! <G>

Learn about the helix of the ear in Anatomy Lesson #24, Hear, Here – The Ear. Try this: On yourself or a helper, feel the lovely curved rim of ear flap. The helix is formed of a cartilage core covered with thin skin. Its shape is highly variable, ranging from almost flat to deeply curved and anything in between!

Read about the curled helix in Dragonfly in Amber book. We can always depend on Diana! She incorporates the helix into Claire’s marvelous musing and charming caress of Jamie’s ear!

I smoothed the tumbled hair back, caressing those ears, so incongruously small and neat for such a large, blunt man. The upper curve glowed with a faint, translucent pink, and I ran my thumb along the edge of the curve.

See Jamie’s right helix (red arrow) in Starz episode 202, Not in Scotland Anymore. With eyes cast demurely downward, Jamie affords the King’s mistress a wee bit of dignity. Not Murty! Ears and eyes at the ready, he canna believe this! Och! Ye pierced both of them???? Yup, she did!

A deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

Fun Fact: pinna

Dougal Mackenzie's Graham McTavish's pinna

Anatomy def: Residing outside the head, the pinna is the visible part of an ear; a.k.a. the auricle, but, not to be confounded with the oracle ?. Pinna is more specific because the term auricle is also used for other body parts (e.g. heart atria).

Outlander def: Dougal’s splendid ear flaps are so sensitive, they pick up treacherous treason in the air! Love his unique ear flanges (Diana’s oft used term). Same ear part as was nailed to the pillory at Cranesmuir!

Learn about the pinna in Anatomy Lesson #24, Here, Hear – The Ear.

Read about Dougal’s pinna – they pick up sound waves vibrating with plots of vile murder and treason (Outlander book) – yikes!

“Dougal,” he said. “It isna what ye think, man. It’s—” “No?” … “Not what I think?” he said, still speaking softly. “I hear the woman urging ye to foul murder—to the murder of your Prince! Not only vile murder, but treason as well! And ye tell me I havena heard it?” He shook his head, the tangled russet curls lank and greasy on his shoulders. … “I dinna blame ye, lad,” he said. … “It isna your fault, Jamie. She’s bewitched ye—anyone can see that.” … That’s the spell that they lay on ye, lad—she and the other witch. … “Stand aside, laddie. I’ll free ye of the sassenach whore.” … “I shall cut your throat,” he said to me softly. … Step aside, lad. I wouldna harm ye, but by God, if ye shield that woman, I shall kill you, too, foster son or no.”

See Dougal’s pinnae in Starz ep 213, Dragonfly in Amber; his ear flaps are atingle with pernicious plotting against his precious prince!