Age-related growth changes in the ear were analyzed by measuring the width and length of ears in 1,590 North American Caucasians between 1 year and 18 years of age. By 1 year, ear width reached 93.5% of adult size in both sexes, only 2.3 mm less than the mean value at 18 years. In contrast, ear length attained a developmental level of only 76.4% by 1 year in both sexes, requiring an increment five times greater (12.3 mm) to reach the size of the ear at 18 years of age. At 5 years, the developmental level in width (96.7%) was almost equal to that of an adult, while the length reached 86.6% in both sexes, and requires 8.2 additional millimeters to attain adult size. Annual growth increments in ear width are small, interrupted with a few periods of no growth. Ear length in males showed an early rapid growth rate (between 2 and 3 years); subsequent growth was generally limited, interrupted with short periods of no changes. The same growth pattern appeared in females. Ear width reached its mature size in males at 7 years and in females at 6 years; ear length matured in males at 13 years and in females at 12. At the time of maturation, the ear was shorter than at 18 years by a mean of 1.1 to 1.4 mm.
AdamsonJ.E., HortonC.E., CrawfordH.H.The growth pattern of the external ear.Plast Reconstr Surg1965; 36: 466–470.
2.
BardachJ., SalyerK.E.Surgical techniques in cleft lip and palate.Chicago: Year Book Medical Publishers,1987: 7, 71, 101, 161.
3.
BisharaS.E., PetersonL.C., BisharaE.C.Changes in facial dimensions and relationships between the ages of 5 and 25 years.Am J Orthod1984; 85: 238–252.
4.
BjörkA., KurodaT.Congenital bilateral hypoplasia of the mandibular condyles associated with congenital bilateral palpebral ptosis. A radiographic analysis of the craniofacial growth by the implant method in one case.Am J Orthod1968; 54: 584–600.
5.
BlalockH.M.Jr.. Social statistics.New York: McGraw-Hill,1960: 158–162.
BrodieA.Behavior of normal and abnormal facial growth patterns.Am J Orthod1941a; 27: 633–647.
8.
BrodieA.On the growth pattern of the human head, from the third month to the eighth year of life.Am J Anat1941b; 68: 209–262.
9.
BrunhölzlC., WidmerA.C., BuserM.W., MüllerH.R.Bestimmung des menschlichen Hirngewichts in vivo durch Schädelmessungen.Acta Anat1990; 139: 311–314.
10.
BurianF., FarkasL.G., HajnišK.The use of anthropology in the observation of facial clefts.Anthropologie1964; 1: 41. (Czechoslovakia)
11.
ColtonT.Statistics in medicine.Boston: Little, Brown,1974: 125–127.
12.
ConverseJ.M.Reconstruction of the auricle—Part I.Plast Reconstr Surg1958; 22: 150–163.
13.
DavenportC.B.Post-natal development of the head. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society. Vol. 83.Philadelphia: The American Philosophical Society,1940.
14.
DavisJ.Aesthetic and reconstruction otoplasty.New York: Springer Verlag,1987.
15.
DownsW.B.The role of cephalometrics in orthodontic case analysis and diagnosis.Am J Orthod1952; 38: 162–182.
16.
EngelmannC.Plastic surgery of the ear. In: KopetzkyS.I., ed. Surgery of the ear.New York: Nelson, 1947.
17.
EngsnerG., BeleteS., SjögrenI., VahlquistB.Brain growth in children with marasmus.Ups J Med Sci1974; 79: 116–128.
18.
EnlowD.H.Handbook of facial growth.2nd Ed.Philadelphia: WB Saunders,1982.
19.
FarkasL.G.Growth of normal and reconstructed auricles. In: TanzerR.C., EdgertonM.T. eds. Symposium on reconstruction of the auricle.St. Louis: CV Mosby, 1974: 24–31.
20.
FarkasL.G.Anthropometry of normal and anomalous ears.Clin Plast Surg1978a; 5: 401–412.
21.
FarkasL.G.Ear morphology in Treacher Collins', Apert's, and Crouzon's syndromes.Arch Otorhinolaryngol1978b; 220: 153–157.
22.
FarkasL.G.Anthropometry of the head and face in medicine.New York: Elsevier,1981.
FarkasL.G.Anthropometry of the normal and defective ear.Clin Plast Surg1990; 17: 213–221.
25.
FarkasL.G., DobisikováM., HajnišK.Anthropometric contribution to the determination of reconstruction timing for hypoplastic and aplastic auricles.Anthropologie1966a; 4: 27–29. (Czechoslovakia)
26.
FarkasL.G., DobisikováM., HajnišK.Quelque considerations anthropometriques concernant le temp de la reconstruction du pavilon de l'oreille lors d'une plasie congénitale.Rev Laryngol Otol Rhinol (Bord)1966b; 87: 873–879.
27.
FarkasL.G., DobisikováM., HajnišK.Rules of determining the period for surgical correction of congenital anomalies of the auricle (except aplasia).Rev Latinoam Chir Plastica1966c; 10: 82–94, (in Spanish)
28.
FarkasL.G., KolarJ.C.Anthropometrics and art in the aesthetics of women's faces, Clin Plast Surg1987; 14: 599–616.
29.
FarkasL.G., LindsayW.K.The columella in cleft lip and palate anomaly. In: HuestonJ.T., ed. Transactions of the Fifth International Congress of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.Australia: Butterworth, 1971: 373–381.
30.
FarkasL.G., LindsayW.K.Ear morphology in cleft lip and palate anomaly.Arch Otorhinolaryngol1973; 206: 57–68.
31.
FarkasL.G., MunroI.R.Anthropometric facial proportions in medicine.Springfield: CC Thomas,1987.
32.
FarkasL.G., MunroI.R., KolarJ.C.Abnormal measurements and disproportions in the face of Down's syndrome patients: Preliminary report of an anthropometric study.Plast Reconstr Surg1985; 75: 159–167.
33.
FeuersteinS.S.Combined technique of otoplasty.Laryngoscope1969; 79: 1118–1131.
34.
FigalováP., ŠmahelZ.The growth of the skull and face in children from 3 months to 6 years of age (in Czech).Burian Laboratory of Plastic Surgery, Czechoslovak Academy of Science, Praha (Czechoslovakia), 1972.
35.
FigalováP., ŠmahelZ.Das Gesichtswachstum bei 3 Monate bis 6 Jahre alten Kindern.Anthropologie1974; 12: 169. (Czechoslovakia)
36.
FukudaO.The microtic ear: survey of 180 cases in 10 years.Plast Reconstr Surg1974; 53: 458–463.
37.
FukudaO., YamadaA.Reconstruction of the microtic ear with autogenous cartilage.Clin Plast Surg1978; 5: 351–366.
38.
GoldsteinM.S.Changes in dimensions and form of the face and head with age.Am J Phys Anthropol1936; 22: 37–89.
39.
GreilH., HellingH., KrämerK.Alterations of head measures in childhood and youth under consideration of the body stature—results of a transversal study of the GDR. In: HajnišK., ed. Growth and ontogenic development in man. III. Proceedings of the symposium held in Prague, June 10–11, 1986.Prague: Charles University, 1989: 127–138.
40.
GüntherH.Konstitutionelle morphologie des äusseren Ohres.Z Anat Entwicklung1951; 115: 490–499.
41.
HajnišK.Das Wachstum von Nase, Oberlippe und Mundspalte bei Deutschen Kindern und Jungendlichen und seine Bedeutung für die Operationen der Spaltmißbildungen des cavum oris.HOMO1970; 21: 142–149.
42.
HajnišK.Growth of the external ear in German populations and its use in the surgery of congenital defects.Academia Publishing House of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, 1971: 345–351.
43.
HajnišK.Kopf-, Ohrmuschel- und Handwachstum. (Verwendung bei den Operationen der angeborenen Mißbildungen und Unfallsfolgen, 1972).Acta Universitatis Carolinae—Biologica1974: 77–294.
44.
HajnišK., DobisikováM.Die Grössenentwicklung der Ohrmuschel tschechischer Kinder von der Geburt bis zum 18. Lebensjahr und ihre Auswertung in der plastischen Chirurgie.Anthropologie1968; 6: 115–130. (Czechoslovakia)
HajnišK., HajnišováM.Determination of the time for the corrective operations of the face according to the dynamics of its growth.Anthropos1967; 19: 123–134. (Brno)
47.
HallB.Mongolism in newborns. A clinical and cytogenetic study.Acta Pediatr Scand1964; 154 Suppl: 1–95.
48.
HellmanM.Changes in the human face brought about by development.Int J Orthod1927; 13: 475–516.
49.
HellmanM.Growth of face and occlusion of teeth in relation to orthodontic treatment.Int J Orthodont1933; 19: 1116–1147.
50.
HindererU.T., del rioJ.L., FregenalF.J.Otoplasty for prominent ears.Aesthetic Plast Surg1987; 11: 63–69.
51.
HreczkoT., FarkasL.G., KaticM.Clinical significance of age-related changes of the palpebral fissures between age 2 and 18 years in healthy Caucasians.Acta Chir Plast1990; 32: 194–204.
52.
HughesD.R.Finger dermatolglyphics from Nuristan, Afghanistan.Man1967; 2: 119–125.
53.
JaswalS., JaswalI.J.An anthropometric study of body size in Down syndrome.Indian J Pediatr1981; 48: 81–84.
54.
KrogmanW.M.Vital data on the population of the Seminole Indians of Florida and Oklahoma.Hum Biol1935; 7: 319–334.
55.
LandeM.J.Growth behavior of the human bony facial profile as revealed by serial cephalometric roentgenology.Angle Orthod1952; 22: 78–90.
56.
LyleW.M., WoodruffM.E., ZuccaroV.S.A review of the literature on Down's syndrome and an optometrical survey of 44 patients with the syndrome.Am J Optom1972; 49: 715–727.
57.
MaiselsD.O.The timing of the various operations required for complete clefts and their influence on facial growth.Br J Plast Surg1967; 20: 230–243.
58.
MeredithH.V.Stature of Massachusetts Children of North European and Italian ancestry.Am J Phys Anthropol1939; 24: 301–346.
59.
MinotC.S.On the weight of guinea pigs.J Physiol1891; 12: 97–153.
60.
PellnitzD.Über das Wachstum des menschlichen Ohrmuschels.Arch Ohr Nas Kehlk Heilk1958; 171: 334–340.
61.
PellnitzD.Die Bedeutung von Ohrmuschel- und Nasenwachstum für die Indikations-stellung kosmetischer Operationen.Arch Ohr Nas Kehlk Heilk1962; 180: 387–390.
62.
PeltonJ.W., ElsasserW.A.Studies of dentofacial morphology. IV, Profile changes among 6,829 white individuals according to age and sex.Angle Orthod1955; 25: 199–207.
63.
PosenJ.M.A longitudinal study of the growth of the nose.Am J Orthodont1967; 53: 746–756.
64.
ProkopecM., TitlbachováS.Sexual dimorphism of selected body characteristics determined during nation-wide studies of the Czech children in 1981. In: HajnišK., ed. Growth and ontogenic development in man. III. Proceedings of the symposium held in Prague, June 10–11, 1986.Prague: Charles University, 1989; 347–364.
65.
PruzanskyS.Time: the fourth dimension in syndrome analysis applied to craniofacial malformations.Birth Defects1977; 13: 3–28.
66.
RetziusA.A.Om formen of nordboernes cranier (Aftryekt ur Förhandl. vid. naturforskames möte: Stockholm är 1842), Stockholm, 1843.
67.
RubinL.R., BrombergB.E., WaldenR.H., AdamsA.An anatomic approach to the obtrusive ear.Plast Reconstr Surg1962; 29: 360–370.
68.
SaksenaS.S.A clinical atlas of roentgenocephalometry in Norma Frontalis.New York: Alan R Liss,1990.
69.
SavaraB.S., SinghI.J.Norms of size and annual increments of seven anatomical measures of maxillae in boys from three to sixteen years of age.Angle Orthod1968; 38: 104–120.
70.
Schmidt-SidorB., WisniewskyK.E., ShepardT.H., SersenE.A.Brain growth in Down syndrome subjects 15 to 22 weeks of gestational age and birth to 60 months.Clin Neuropalhol1990; 9: 181–190.
71.
ScottJ.H.The analysis of facial growth. I. The anteroposterior and vertical dimensions.Am J Orthod1958; 44: 507–512.
72.
ScottJ.H.Dento-facial development and growth.Oxford: Pergamon Press,1967.
73.
SinghR.A cross sectional study of growth in five somatometric traits of Punjabi boys aged eleven to eighteen years.Am J Phys Amhropol1970; 32: 129–138.
74.
ŠmahelZ.Effects of certain therapeutic factors on facial development in isolated cleft palate.Acta Chirurgiae Plasticae (Praha)1989; 31: 35–46.
75.
StarkR.B., SaundersD.E.Natural appearance restored to the unduly prominent ear.Br J Plast Surg1962; 15: 385–397.
76.
SubtelnyJ.D.A longitudinal study of soft-tisssue facial structures and their profile characteristics, defined in relation to underlying skeletal structures.Am J Orthod1959; 45: 481–507.
TannerJ.M.Growth at adolescence.2nd Ed.Springfield: Charles C. Thomas,1962.
79.
TanzerR.C.Total reconstruction of the external ear.Plast Reconstr Surg1959; 23: 1–15.
80.
TanzerR.C.Ear reconstruction. A second progress report. Transactions of the Fourth International Congress of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, 1969. Amsterdam, Excerpta Medica Foundation, 1969: 644.
81.
TanzerR.C.Reflections and projections. In: TanzerR.C., EdgertonM.T. eds. Symposium on Reconstruction of the Auricle.St. Louis: CV Mosby, 1974: 303–306.
