Morphometric study of the human external ear in Gujarat population

In cases of mass disasters, a team of forensic anthropologists, odontologists, pathologists, crime scene investigators play a vital role in all phases of casualty resolution. The present study aims at providing information on the morphology of ear in the 80 young adult Gujarati population aged 20–35 years with emphasis on sex related dimensions (landmarks measurements), left - right ear symmetry. The ear length (62.58mm), ear length above tragus (36.52mm) and below tragus (17.31mm), tragus length (9.06mm), ear breadth (26.64mm), concha length (27.07mm), concha breadth (19.09mm) were found to be greater in males whereas lobule length (5.06mm) and width (17.81mm) were found to be greater in females. Most of the parameters were statistically significant (p<0.001) which can aid in sexual differentiation to certain extent. 72.72% females had rectangular shaped ears and 59.25% male population had oval ears. When a database of the ear morphology and landmarks measurements of the population from all the states is maintained, it can simplify the identification of individual's origin in cases of mass disasters. The ears, on meticulous examination can aid as an important tool in determining the victim's gender, age and geographical location.