Anthropometric Study of the Human Ear Among Patients Visiting People’s Dental College and Hospital: An Observational Study

TL;DR

This study measured ear dimensions in 157 adults to establish baseline data for clinical and forensic use.

Contribution

The study provides population-specific anthropometric data for the external ear in Nepalese adults.

Findings

Males had larger auricular dimensions, while females had slightly larger lobules.

Minimal bilateral asymmetry was observed in ear measurements.

Strong bilateral symmetry and sexual dimorphism were confirmed in ear morphology.

Abstract

Anthropometric measurements of the external ear provide valuable normative data for applications in clinical practice, reconstructive surgery, forensics, and ergonomics. As ear morphology varies by population, sex, and age, population-specific reference data are essential. This study aimed to determine the normal dimensions of the outer ear among adult patients.

A cross-sectional study was conducted from 8th to 28th September 2025 among 157 adult patients (82 males and 75 females) visiting the hospital with normal external ears. Standardized auricular measurements, including auricular height, auricular width, lobular height, and lobular width, were obtained bilaterally using a digital vernier caliper following established anthropometric landmarks. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics to calculate the mean and standard deviation.

The mean right and left auricular heights were 63.38 ± 6.19 mm and 63.13 ± 6.49 mm, respectively, while auricular widths were 33.81 ± 6.26 mm (right) and 33.82 ± 6.23 mm (left). Minimal bilateral asymmetry was observed. Males exhibited greater auricular height and width, whereas females showed marginally larger lobular dimensions. Lobular height demonstrated greater variability than width across both sexes.

The study revealed strong bilateral symmetry in external ear measurements, with clear sexual dimorphism—males having larger auricular dimensions and females slightly larger lobules. This finding provide baseline data for Nepalese adults and hold relevance in forensic identification, prosthetic design, and reconstructive surgery. Further large-scale, multiethnic studies are recommended to validate and expand upon these findings.