The ear : its anatomy, physiology, and diseases : a practical treatise for the use of medical students and practitioners / by Charles H. Burnett.

  • Burnett, Charles H. (Charles Henry), 1842-1902.
Date:
1877
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The ear : its anatomy, physiology, and diseases : a practical treatise for the use of medical students and practitioners / by Charles H. Burnett. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    The auricle is abundantly supplied with sebaceous glands from 0.5 to 2.0 mm. in diameter, which are most numerous and hii^hly developed in the concha. The entire surface of the pinnu^ or auricle is covered with downy hairs, which attain their most luxuriant growth near the meatus and on the tragus, to which fact the latter spot owes its name of goat or tragus. Sudoriferous Glands.—The sudoriferous glands are most abun- dant on the posterior surface of the auricle, an important con- sideration in the management of the ears of infants, for if their auricles are pressed constantly against the head, as is too apt to be the case, chafing of the parts must be the inevitable result. The modified sudoriferous glands of the cutis of the external ear are developed into ceruminous glands in the external audi- tory meatus.^ PHYSIOLOGY. The use of the extrinsic auricular muscles is usually very imperfectly developed in man, although the ability to move the auricle is now and then met with even in the most cultivated. It has, however, been supposed, that as civilization has elevated man above a merely animal existence, the power to move the auricle freely and voluntarily, has diminished as the necessity of such a function would cease with a less savage life. Such indeed seems to be the rational view to take of the use of these muscles. That they are capable, however, of culti- vation does not seem to be an uncommon observation. All are familiar with the story of Albinus, the anatomist of the eighteenth century, who could move his auricles so well, that he was in the habit of removing his wig in order to demon- strate to his class the power he possessed over them. Sir Astley Cooper has recorded a case^ in which the auricles were in constant motion whenever great attention was necessary. Two physicians of my acquaintance can move the auricles markedly with ease. I have very often seen the auricles move unconsciously in my patients, when standing behind them, and they were obliged to be more than usually attentive. But this motion was not continual; it appeared to me to be an entirely ' Kessel, Strieker's Hamlbucb, p. 841. ' Phil. TrauB., London, 1800.