Outer ear: The part of the ear that is visible along the side of the head. The outer ear consists of the pinna, or auricle (the visible projecting portion of the ear), the external acoustic meatus (the outside opening to the ear canal), and the external ear canal, which leads to the eardrum. The outer ear concentrates air vibrations on the eardrum to make the eardrum vibrate. Search MedTerms:
The muscles of mastication control chewing and include the temporalis, masseter, digastric, and the -glossus muscles of the tongue. Finally, the neck muscles include the sternocleidomastoid and splenius muscles, which move the head.
Occipital Neuralgia/ Occipital Neuritis: The greater occipital nerve is the main nerve that serves the back of the head or the scalp. This nerve, located on each side of the base of the skull, arises from the roots of the nerves of the upper-most portion of the spinal cord inside of the spinal column. The occipital nerves provide sensation and muscular strength to the muscles in the scalp at the back of the head behind the ears.