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Tragus of ear

The tragus is a small, cartilaginous projection situated anterior to the external auditory canal, forming part of the auricle (external ear). It plays a role in partially covering the ear canal, contributing to sound direction and protection from debris. The tragus is a palpable, triangular structure composed primarily of elastic cartilage, covered by skin. Its proximity to important neurovascular structures and the external auditory meatus makes it clinically and radiologically relevant.

Synonyms:

  • Cartilago tragus (Latin)

  • Auricular tragus

  • Ear tragus

  • Tragic cartilage

  • External ear prominence

MRI Appearance of Tragus:

  • Proton Density (PD) Sequence:

    • Tragus cartilage appears as a structure of intermediate signal intensity, similar to other auricular cartilages.

    • Surrounding soft tissue and skin may be seen as slightly higher signal intensity.

    • The boundary between the tragus cartilage and adjacent soft tissues is well-defined.

  • Short Tau Inversion Recovery (STIR) Sequence:

    • Cartilage of the tragus typically shows low to intermediate signal.

    • STIR sequences suppress fat, making the cartilage more conspicuous against the suppressed background.

    • Edema or inflammation (if present) within or around the tragus would appear hyperintense (bright signal).

  • T1-Weighted Sequence:

    • The tragus cartilage appears as low to intermediate signal intensity.

    • The surrounding subcutaneous fat appears hyperintense (bright signal), offering clear contrast with the cartilage.

    • The overlying skin and connective tissue are seen as thin, low signal layers.

MRI images

Tragus of ear MRI image