External ear is unique in its morphology. It is developed from the fusion of six auricular hillocks. Variations occur during
the development which differ not only among populations but also within the population group. The present study was
done on the people of north coastal Andhra Pradesh, to determine the variations in the shape, thickness and attachment of ear lobes, morphology of
tragus and Darwin's tubercle. The photographs of 284 ears of 142 students (78girls, 64boys) were analyzed and compared. The most common
shape of the tragus was found to be nodular in both males (right-76.8%; left-77.3%) and females (right-85.2, left- 86.7%), followed by elongated
and the least common shape was triangular. Lobulus auriculae had arched shape as the commonest in both males (right-68.2%; left- 66.3%) and
females (right-70.3%; left- 69.6%) followed by tongue shape and square shape. The least common was triangular. Most common form of Darwin's
tubercle from the study was “elongated” in both males (right-68.4%; left-69.3%) and females (62.3%; 61.4%). These variations were bilateral
showing variations in both right and left ears.
The People of the Colca Valley: A Population Study