the three ligaments that attach the auricle to the side of the head: anterior auricular ligament (ligamentum auriculare anterius), which extends from the root of the zygomatic process to the spine of the helix; posterior auricular ligament (ligamentum auriculare posterius), which extends from the mastoid process to the conchal eminence; superior auricular ligament (ligamentum auriculare superius), which extends from the superior margin of the osseous external acoustic meatus to the spine of the helix. Syn: ligamenta auricularia [NA], Valsalva’s ligaments.