Antitragus

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌæn.tɪˈtɹeɪ.ɡəs/

Definitions

1. A small anatomical projection found in the outer ear, situated opposite to the tragus, serves to outline the ear’s form and contributes to its auditory functions
2. Positioned on the temporal aspect of the ear, this distinct structure functions as a landmark in ear anatomy and plays a role in shaping the auricle and sound reception
3. A small protrusion located near the ear that is opposite the tragus, it serves as a structural feature contributing to the outer ear's shape and acoustics

Etymology: The "tragus" in the name is itself a striking piece of anatomy-by-metaphor: the small cartilage flap in front of the ear's opening takes its name from the Greek "tragos," meaning goat, probably because of the tuft of hair that often grows on it. The antitragus is simply its counterpart, the small ridge sitting on the opposite side of the ear's central hollow, facing the tragus across the concha. The word is a plain compound, formed from the Greek prefix "anti-," meaning "against" or "opposite," joined to "tragus." Anatomists coined it in this way to name a structure that needed a label, so the word is a technical formation rather than something inherited from ancient anatomy. The Greek prefix itself goes back to the ancient "antí," which carried the same sense of facing or standing against.