Anthropometry of the normal human auricle: a study of adult Indian men

Abstract

Background: To treat auricular deformities or to perform facial rejuvenation, a plastic surgeon requires normative data for auricular dimensions. The metric standards vary in various ethnic groups, and such data are especially scarce from in India. This study aimed to provide anthropometric information about the normal dimensions of the adult male auricle in central India.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken in central India with 415 males categorized in five age groups. Six linear dimensions including the length and width of the auricle, lobule, and concha and the heights of the auricular protrusion at the superaurale and tragal levels were measured. Auricular, lobular, and conchal indices were calculated. The inclination of the auricle relative to its vertical axis was measured. Descriptions of various auricle parts including its shape, preauricular area, form of the helical fold, lobular shape, size, and type of attachment to the cheek were recorded.

Results: Almost all the linear measurements showed a steady increase in size with age. The dimensions of the lobule were dependent on its shape and attachment to the cheek. The mean lobular and auricular indices were found to decrease with increasing age, indicating more elongation than widening of the structures. On the average, bilateral asymmetry was observed in all measurements, although only auricular length, width, and conchal length in a few age groups were found to be statistically significant. The frequency distribution of forms of various auricular features is presented.

Conclusion: The human ear continues to grow throughout life. The lobule contributes the most to the overall elongation of the auricle. This study furnishes the first set of metric data of auricular dimensions for normal Indian males 18 to 70 years of age. In comparison with other ethnic groups, Indian males seem to have the smallest auricular and lobular lengths, although their respective widths are comparable with those of others.