Assessment of Sexual Dimorphism Using External Ear Morphometry: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Adults in Bardhaman, West Bengal
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37506/e9kjjz92Keywords:
Sexual Dimorphism, Ear Morphometry, External Ear, Biometric Identification, Bengali Population, Forensic AnthropologyAbstract
Introduction: The sexual dimorphism based on morphometric ear variables of the adult Indian population is
highly under-explored. Morphometry of external ear from other countries cannot be directly applicable to the
Indian population.
Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate morphometric parameters of the external ear among adult
Bengali population to assess sex-based differences.
Materials and Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Burdwan Medical College
and Hospital from March 2021 to March 2022, involving 146 males and 146 females. Right (RT) and Left (LT)
Auricle length (AL), Auricle Width (AW), Lobule Length (LL), and Lobule Width (LW) were measured using
vernier calipers. Auricle Index (AI) and Lobule Index (LI) were calculated. Two-tailed paired t-test was performed
between the corresponding variables of males and females.
Result: Right Auricle Length (RTAL), Auricle Width (RTAW), Lobule Length (RTLL), Lobule Width (RTLW) and
Lobule Index (RTLI) showed significant sexual dimorphism. Left Auricle Width (LTAW), Lobule Length (LTLL)
and Lobule Width (LTLW) also showed significant differences (p <0.05).
Conclusion: The result suggests significant sexual dimorphism in external ear morphometry among the Bengali
population. The assessment of ear morphometry using a simple and direct technique can be useful during forensic
investigations. These preliminary findings indicate that ear morphometry can be used as a supportive tool in
forensic anthropology and biometric identification.
References
Merriam-Webster. Ear [Internet]. Merriam-Webster.
com; 2025 [cited 2025 Jul 8]. Available from: https://
www.merriam- webster.com/dictionary/ear
Datta AK. Essentials of human anatomy: head and
neck. Kolkata: Current Books International; p. 317–46.
Gleeson M. External and middle ear. In: Standring S,
editor. Gray’s anatomy: the anatomical basis of clinical
practice. 41st ed. London: Elsevier; 2015. p. 624–39.
Singh V. Textbook of anatomy: head, neck, and brain.
Vol. 3. 2nd ed. New Delhi: Elsevier; p. 252–72.
Maitreyee M. Analysis of morphometric and
somatoscopic traits of auricle of ear in India:
relation with diversified ethnicities. J Exp Clin Anat.
;18(1):1.
Bozkır MG, Karakaş P, Yavuz M, Dere F. Morphometry
of the external ear in our adult population. Aesth Plast
Surg. 2006;30(1):81–5.
Cao Y, Vacanti JP, Paige KT, Upton J, Vacanti CA.
Transplantation of chondrocytes utilizing a polymercell
construct to produce tissue-engineered cartilage
in the shape of a human ear. Plast Reconstr Surg.
;100(2):297–302.
Pupovac N, Knežić N. Morphometry of the auricle.
Medicina Danas. 2017;16(7–9):117–23.
Mohamed H, Adly M, Abuelhamed M. Determination
of Sex in Minia Government using External Ear Print
Measurements [Internet]. 2018 Jul 5 [cited 2025 Jul
. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/
publication/326200334_ Determination_of_Sex_in_
Minia_Government_using_ External_Ear_Print_
Measurements
Kumar BS, Selvi GP. Morphometry of ear pinna in sex
determination. Int J Anat Res. 2016;4(2):2480–4.
Britto J, Panchal P, Prasad A, Kumari R, Kumari S.
Photogrammetric morphometric analysis of auricle.
Int J Med Sci Public Health. 2018 Jun 1;7(6):440-3.
Sharma A, Sidhu NK, Sharma MK, Kapoor K, Singh B.
Morphometric study of ear lobule in northwest Indian
male subjects. Anat Sci Int. 2007;82(2):98–104.
Verma P, Sandhu HK, Verma KG, Goyal S, Sudan M,
Ladgotra A. Morphological variations and biometrics
of ear: an aid to personal identification. J Clin Diagn
Res. 2016;10(5):ZC138.
Acharya S, Gupta C, Palimar V, Kalthur SG, Adhikari
P. Morphology and morphometry of human external
ear with its significance in sex determination and
stature estimation: an observational study. F1000Res.
;14:119.
Dattatraya JS. Study of Karnavedhana: ancient
and contemporary methods. Int Ayurvedic Med J.
;9(5):947–51.
Purkait R. Progression of growth in the external ear
from birth to maturity: a 2-year follow-up study in
India. Aesth Plast Surg. 2013;37(3):605–16.
Murgod V, Angadi P, Hallikerimath S, Kale A.
Anthropometric study of the external ear and its
applicability in sex identification: assessed in an Indian
sample. Aust J Forensic Sci. 2013;45(4):431–44.
Kala AC, Rajoria S, Agarwal CK, Raj S. Comparative
assessment of external ear: morphometric study and
sexual dimorphism in medical students in SMS Medical
College, Jaipur. J Med Sci Clin Res. 2019;7(5):7406–10.
Jagriti R, Raju. Morphometric analysis of the human
ear, examining its sexual dimorphism in medical
students. Med Innov. 2023;12(2):58–62.
Sezgin N, Ersoy G. Metric and morphological features
of the ear in sex classification. Egypt J Forensic Sci.
;13:44.
Richards J. What is the Frankfort plane? [Internet].
NutriActiva Blog; 2024 [cited 2025 May 27].
Available from: https://nutriactiva.com/blogs/
anthropometry/ what-is-the-frankfort-plane
Brucker MJ, Patel J, Sullivan PK. A morphometric study
of the external ear: age- and sex-related differences.
Plast Reconstr Surg. 2003;112(2):647–52.
Azaria R, Adler N, Silfen R, Regev D, Hauben DJ.
Morphometry of the adult human earlobe: a study of
subjects and clinical application. Plast Reconstr
Surg. 2003;111(7):2398–402.
Purkait R, Singh P. Anthropometry of the normal
human auricle: a study of adult Indian men. Aesth
Plast Surg. 2007;31(4):372–9.
Elyasi L, Araban S, Eftekhar Vaghefi SH. Auricle
morphometry in Iranian population. Anat Sci J.
;17(2):47–54.
Niemitz C, Nibbrig M, Zacher V. Human ears
grow throughout the entire lifetime according
to complicated and sexually dimorphic patterns:
conclusions from a cross-sectional analysis. Anthropol
Anz. 2007;65(4):391–413.
Ekanem AU, Garba SH, Musa TS, Dare ND.
Anthropometric study of the pinna (auricle) among
adult Nigerians resident in Maiduguri metropolis. J
Med Sci. 2010;10(6):176–80.
Wang B, Dong Y, Zhao Y, Bai S, Wu G. Computed
tomography measurement of the auricle in Han
population of north China. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet
Surg. 2011;64(1):34–40.
Mustapha M, Firdausi Y, Miko A. Sex discrimination
potential of morphometric ear variables among Hausa
adolescents in Zaria, Northwestern Nigeria. Niger J Sci
Res. 2016;15(3):63–7.
Alexander KS, Stott DJ, Sivakumar B, Kang N. A
morphometric study of the human ear. J Plast Reconstr
Aesthet Surg. 2011;64(1):41–7.
Nyemb PMM, Sankale AA, Ndiaye L, Ndiaye A, Gaye
M. Morphometric study of the outer ear in young
adults. Pan Afr Med J. 2014;19:355.
Fakorede ST, Adekoya KO, Fasakin TP, Odufisan
JO, Oboh B. Ear morphology and morphometry as
potential forensic tools for identification of the Hausa,
Igbo and Yoruba populations of Nigeria. Bull Natl Res
Cent. 2021;45(1):205.
Bertillon A. Identification anthropométrique:
instructions signalétiques [Internet]. Melun:
Imprimerie administrative; 1893 [cited 2025 Jul
. Available from: http://archive.org/details/
identificationa00bertgoog
Carvalho GP, Bantim YCV. Inmates beheaded in
a Brazil prison riot: human identification by ear
individual signs. J Forensic Leg Med. 2019;68:101870.
Thales Group. Biometrics: definition, use cases, latest
news [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2025 May 28]. Available
from: https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/markets/
digital-identity-and-security/government/inspired/
biometrics
Ahila Priyadharshini R, Arivazhagan S, Arun M. A
deep learning approach for person identification using
ear biometrics. Appl Intell. 2021;51(4):2161–72.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Madhavi Phulambrikar (Keole)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/deed.en