Auricular Parameters: A Tool for Stature, Gender and Ethno-facial Determination in a Nigerian Population.

Abstract

Background: The auricle is a defining feature with the capacity for facial identification, age estimation, and gender determination. This study was designed to establish auricular parameters as a possible tool for identification. Methods: The purposive sampling method was used to randomly select 150 males and 150 females such that each of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria: Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba was represented by 100 individuals. Results: Sexual dimorphism was established in all auricular parameters except right lobular length. Auricular parameters varied significantly among the ethnic groups. All the auricular parameters except left lobular length correlated significantly with stature, no significant correlation was noted between auricular parameters and nasal parameters. Facial height correlated significantly with both right and left auricular lengths. Conclusion: Auricular parameters are good predictors of ethnicity, stature, and gender. They can also be used to determine some facial parameters.