Question #690

Considering innervation of the external ear, which of the following statements is correct?

The lesser petrosal nerve supplies the tympanic membrane

The inferior wall of the external acoustic meatus is innervated by the auriculotemporal nerve

A branch of the trigeminal nerve innervates the antitragus

The lobule is innervated by the lesser occipital nerve

Is innervated by branches of the cervical plexus

The external ear is innervated via a number of different nerves and is particularly poorly defined, when considering the auricle:

• Anterior and superior walls of the external acoustic meatus – auriculotemporal nerve
• Inferior and posterior walls of the external acoustic meatus – auricular branch of the vagus nerve
• Helix, anti-helix,lobule - Greater auricular nerve
• Upper cranial surface - Lesser occipital nerve
• Concavity of concha and posterioreminentia - Auricular branch of the vagus
• Tragus, crus of helix - Auriculotemporal nerve
• Facial nerve, fibres picked up by auricular branch of the vagus nerve making it difficult to determine the exact origin.

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