Authors
Neha Jain
Abstract
Anthropometric measurements are considered to be a significant part while studying physical anthropology. This branch of physical anthropology involves measurements of the human beings in order to understand the physical variations occurred in humans on the basis of measurements of their morphological and physiological traits. External ear morphometric measurement is also an attribute of such anthropological studies which helps in determining the age, gender but also leads to successful identification of an individual. In the present study also, some physiognomic characteristics of external ear (shape of external ear and variation in ear lobe) along with the morphometric measurements and normal dimensions of total ear length and width (both right and left external ear) are taken from the population of India (North India) comprises of 100 individuals. The sampling procedure involves measurement from both males and females so as to make a comparison in such parameters which helps in determining the gender differences and thereby creates a data which leads to successful sexual dimorphism. Key Words: External ear, anthropometric measurements, physical variations, physiognomic characteristics, sexual dimorphism
Introduction
The ear is one of the significant feature of the face whose characteristics if studied cautiously proves to be highly unique. The study of ear is known as earology. The uniqueness owes to its external structure and morphology which aids in determining the age and sex of an individual. The uniqueness lies primarily in the morphological features because of the variation in the distinctive characteristics of ear shape, ear lobe shape, type of ear lobe and ear size. These characteristics are highly specific to a person and remains unchanged throughout the life of an individual except the increase in size of ear lobe during adulthood. In humans the features of external ear solely contributes to the identification of an individual and also in doing the gender differentiation (Brucker et al, 2003; Chattopadhyay and Bhatia, 2009).
The study of these characteristics is called Otomorphology which can also be defined as the study of physiognomy of the external ear (Singhal et al, 2016).
In humans external ear is primarily composed of auricle/pinna and external acoustic meatus, which has been used as one of the parameter for identification extensively (Murgod et al, 2013). This auricle is in the form of a trumpet attached to the lateral side of the skull and is directed downwards or forward to catch the sound easily. This auricle is generally made up of a yellow single elastic sheet of fibro cartilage that possesses various undulations (Singhal et al, 2016).
The auricle is further characterized by helix which represent to the edge of the ear or at the outermost rim, which begins to form in middle of ear as raised, considered as helix root. This portion is the posterior free margin of the auricle. Another part of the ear is the thick or raised ridge which is upwardly parallel with the helix in center of ear and hence also considered as the inner elevated margin (Landgren, 61-65; Csillag, 2-4).
References
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| APA Style | Jain, N. (2018). Sexual Dimorphism Based on Comparative Study of Anthropometric Measurements of External Ear in Indian Population. Academic Journal of Anthropological Studies, 1(1), 33-39. |
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