IJAR.2017.305

Type of Article:  Original Research

Volume 5; Issue 3.2 (August 2017)

Page No.: 4269-4274

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijar.2017.305

MORPHOMETRIC STUDY OF EXTERNAL EAR OF MEDICAL STUDENTS IN COLLEGE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES AND TEACHING HOSPITAL, BHARATPUR, CHITWAN, NEPAL

Ruku Pandit 1, Nitasha Sharma 2, Ritee Shrestha 3, Sheprala Shrestha 4, Pranav K Yadav 5.

*1,3 Lecturer, Department of Anatomy, College of Medical Sciences and Teaching Hospital, Bharatpur, Nepal.

2 Lecturer, Department of Anatomy, Universal College of Medical Sciences, Bhairahawa, Nepal.

4 Lecturer, Department of Anatomy, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Nepal.

5 Post Graduate, Department of Anatomy, College of Medical Sciences and Teaching Hospital, Bharatpur, Nepal.

Address for Correspondence: Dr. Ruku Pandit (MS), Lecturer, Department of Anatomy, College of Medical Sciences and Teaching Hospital, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal. E-Mail: ruukuu_252@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Background: The human ear is unique and auricular biometrics has been adopted as reliable aid in personal identification in forensic sciences. The ear morphometry plays a critical role in reconstructive auricular and peri-auricular surgery to reproduce an anatomically correct and esthetically pleasing ear.

Objectives: To determine mean values of linear ear measurements and their variation with age, sex and side.

Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in 192 students consisting of 98 females and 94 males, in College of Medical Science, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal. Students were categorized in three age groups (17-18 years, 19-20 years and >=21 years). Both ears and their lobule length were measured with standard Vernier caliper. The data was analysed using SPSS version 16.0.

Results: The mean values of EW and LW were more on the right side than on the left in both males and females whereas mean LH was more on the right side in females only. There were significant differences in linear measurements of ear between males and females (p<0.05), the EL, EW, LL and LW being higher in males than females. Aging had a significant effect on EH in both males and females.

Conclusion: This study provides mean values of different morphometric measurements of right and left ears in both sexes, which may be used as reference data to guide plastic surgeons during auricular reconstruction and may assist the forensic pathologist in the identification of a living or deceased individual.

KEY WORDS: Ear measurement, ear height, ear width, lobule height, lobule width.

REFERENCES

  1. Standring SM, Berkovitz BKB, Hackney CM, Ruskell GL, Collins P, Wigley C. Head and neck. In: Standring SM, editor. Grays’s anatomy. 39 ed. London: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2008. p. 649-50.
  2. Brucker MJ, Patel J, Sullivan PK. A morphometric study of the external ear: age- and sex-related differences. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2003 Aug;112(2):647-52.
  3. Bartel-Friedrich S, Wulke C. Classification and diagnosis of ear malformations. GMS current topics in otorhinolaryngology, head and neck surgery. 2007;6.
  4. McGrath MH, Mukerji S. Plastic surgery and the teenage patient. Journal of pediatric and adolescent gynecology. 2000;13(3):105-18.
  5. Ekanem A, Garba S, Musa T, Dare N. Anthropometric study of the pinna (Auricle) among adult Nigerians resident in Maiduguri metropolis. Journal of Medical Sciences. 2010;10(6):176-80.
  6. Eboh D. Morphological changes of the human pinna in relation to age and gender of Urhobo people in Southern Nigeria. Journal of Experimental and Clinical Anatomy. 2013;12(2):68.
  7. Fok T, Hon K, So H, Ng P, Wong E, Lee A, et al. Auricular anthropometry of Hong Kong Chinese babies. Orthodontics & craniofacial research. 2004;7(1):10-4.
  8. Verma P, Sandhu HK, Verma KG, Goyal S, Sudan M, Ladgotra A. Morphological Variations and Biometrics of Ear: An Aid to Personal Identification. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research: JCDR. 2016;10(5):138.
  9. Brent B. The pediatrician’s role in caring for patients with congenital microtia and atresia. Pediatric annals. 1999;28(6):374-83.
  10. Conway H, Wagner KJ. Congenital anomalies of the head and neck. Plastic and reconstructive surgery. 1965;36(1):71-9.
  11. Sharma A, Sidhu NK, Sharma MK, Kapoor K, Singh B. Morphometric study of ear lobule in northwest Indian male subjects. Anatomical science international. 2007;82(2):98-104.
  12. Ito I, Imada M, Ikeda M, Sueno K, Arikuni T, Kida A. A morphological study of age changes in adult human auricular cartilage with special emphasis on elastic fibers. The Laryngoscope. 2001;111(5):881-6.
  13. McKinney P, Giese S, Placik O. Management of the Ear in Rhytidectomy. Plastic and reconstructive surgery. 1993;92(5):858-66.
  14. Deopa D, Thakkar H, Prakash C, Niranjan R, Barua M. Anthropometric measurements of external ear of medical students in Uttarakhand region. Journal of the Anatomical Society of India. 2013;62(1):79-83.
  15. Sadacharan CM. Ear morphometry on Indian Americans and its clinical importance. International Journal of Applied Research. 2016;2(1):348-53.
  16. Mowlavi A, Meldrum DG, Wilhelmi BJ, Zook EG. Incidence of earlobe ptosis and pseudoptosis in patients seeking facial rejuvenation surgery and effects of aging. Plastic and reconstructive surgery. 2004;113(2):712-7.
  17. Azaria R, Adler N, Silfen R, Regev D, Hauben D. Morphometry of the adult human earlobe: a study of 547 subjects and clinical application. Plastic and reconstructive surgery. 2003;111(7):2398-402.
  18. Shireen S, Karadkhelkar VP. Anthropometric measurements of human external ear. JEMDS. 2015;4(59):10333-8.
  19. Sharma N. Anthropometric measurement and cross-sectional surveying of ear pinna characteristics in Northern India. Journal of Experimental and Clinical Anatomy. 2016;15(2):102.

Cite this article: Ruku Pandit, Nitasha Sharma, Ritee Shrestha, Sheprala Shrestha, Pranav K Yadav. MORPHOMETRIC STUDY OF EXTERNAL EAR OF MEDICAL STUDENTS IN COLLEGE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES AND TEACHING HOSPITAL, BHARATPUR, CHITWAN, NEPAL. Int J Anat Res 2017;5(3.2):4269-4274. DOI: 10.16965/ijar.2017.305