Anthropometric growth study of the ear.

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.