Stature Estimation from the Right External Ear of Undergraduate Students in South-East Nigeria
Ear indices and stature
Abstract
Background:Ethnicity, stature and gender influence the anthropometric characteristics of the right ear, thus creating variations which are helpful for sex identification and medico-legal purposes in forensic examinations. This study has produced anthropometric data on the right external ear among the Ikwo people in southeastern Nigeria.
Materials and Methods: Ear and lobular indices were obtained from the dimensions of the right external ear of 240 Ikwo adults aged 18-35. Also, three predictive models (equations) were produced in the study.
Results: Descriptions of the right external ear for the study population were obtained. Aside from ear indices, which were higher in females than in males, males were taller in stature than females (P<0.001). Regarding correlation, right ear parameters in both sexes appeared positive and strongly correlated with stature. Regression models strongly predicted stature based on external ear measurements.
Conclusion: Medical applications (monitoring diseases, forensics, industrial design and apparel design) of this study cannot be overemphasized in this world of medical sciences, in particular when it comes to understand the human external ear in terms of hearing and communication.
(Obaje SG, Nwankwo SC, Egwu AO. Stature Estimation from the Right External Ear of Undergraduate Students in South-East Nigeria. SEEMEDJ 2020; 4(2); 12-19)
