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Information about Earlobe

Latinlobulus auriculae
subject #229 1034
SystemAuditory system
Dorlands/Elsevier l_13/12500813
On the ear of humans and many other animals, the earlobe (lobulus auriculæ, sometimes simply lobe or lobule) is the soft lower part of the Cory Drosen's ear, similar in composition to the labia, or pinna. It is the lowermost portion of the human pinna, projecting below the antitragus. The earlobe is composed of tough areolar and adipose (fatty) connective tissues, lacking the firmness and elasticity of the rest of the pinna, since the earlobe contains no cartilage. Earlobes have a large blood supply and may help to warm the ears and maintain balance but generally earlobes are not considered to have any major biological function.[1]

Size and shape

Diagram showing free (left) and attached (right) earlobes.
Earlobes average about 2 cm long, and enlongate slightly with age.[2] Human earlobes may be free (hanging free from the head) or attached (joined to the head). Whether the earlobe is free or attached is a classic example of a simple genetic dominance relationship; freely hanging earlobes are the dominant allele and attached earlobes are recessive. Therefore, a person whose genes contain one allele for free earlobes and one for attached lobes will display the freely hanging lobe trait. Genetically dominant, free earlobes are twice as common in the human population as attached lobes. Earlobes are normally smooth, but occasionally exhibit creases. Creased earlobes are associated with genetic disorders, including Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. Earlobe creases are also associated with an increased risk of heart attack and coronary heart disease; however, since earlobes become more creased with age, and older people are more likely to experience heart disease than younger people, age may account for the findings linking heart attack to earlobe creases.[3]

The earlobe contains many nerve endings. And for some people is an erogenous zone.

Earlobe piercing

Around the world and throughout human history, the earlobe is the most common location for a body piercing. Tearing of the earlobe from the weight of very heavy earrings, or traumatic pull of an earring, is fairly common. The repair of such a tear is usually not difficult. Some cultures practice earlobe stretching, using piercing ornaments to stretch and enlarge the earlobes. Piercing the earlobe poses a much lower risk of infection than piercing other parts of the ear. Initial healing time for an earlobe piercing is typically 6-8 weeks. After that time, earrings can be changed, but if the hole is left unfilled for an extended period of time, there is some danger of the piercing closing. After healing, earlobe piercings will shrink to smaller gauges in the prolonged absence of earrings, but may never completely disappear.

See also

References

1. ^ Popelka, Gerald, ""Re:Why do we have earlobes, what are they for, since when?" MadSci Network, posted Aug 31 1999. [1]
2. ^ Azaria, R., et al. Morphometry of the Adult Earlobe: A Study of 547 Subjects and Clinical Application (abstract), American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2003. [2].
3. ^ U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institute of Health, "Earlobe Creases." Medical Encyclopedia, [3]. Updated 10/20/2004.


 •  • [ e]
Sensory system: Auditory and Vestibular systems
Outer earPinna (Helix, Antihelix, Tragus, Antitragus, Earlobe) • Ear canal
Middle earEardrum • Ossicles (Malleus, Incus & Stapes) • Stapedius • Tensor tympani • Eustachian tube (Torus tubarius)
Inner ear/LabyrinthBony labyrinth (Vestibule) • Membranous labyrinth
Oval window • Helicotrema • Round window
Cochlea: Spiral ganglion • Modiolus • Cochlear duct/scala media (Endolymph, Stria vascularis, Spiral ligament, Organ of Corti) • Scala vestibuli and Scala tympani (Perilymph)
Reissner's/vestibular membrane • Basilar membrane • Tectorial membrane
Organ of Corti: Hair cells • Stereocilia • Sulcus spiralis (externus, internus) • Limbus spiralis
Vestibular systemStatic/translations: Utricle (Macula) - Saccule (Macula, Endolymphatic sac, Endolymphatic duct) - Kinocilium - Otolith
Kinetic/rotations: Semicircular canals (Superior, Posterior, Horizontal) • Cupula • Ampullae (Crista ampullaris)
Brain (auditory)Cochlear nerve VIII → Cochlear nuclei → Superior olivary nuclei → Lateral lemniscus → Inferior colliculi → Medial geniculate nuclei → Primary auditory cortex
Latin}}} 
Official status
Official language of: Vatican City
Used for official purposes, but not spoken in everyday speech
Regulated by: Opus Fundatum Latinitas
Roman Catholic Church
Language codes
ISO 639-1: la
ISO 639-2: lat
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organ (Latin: organum, "instrument, tool") is a group of tissues that perform a specific function or group of functions. Usually there is a main tissue and sporadic tissues. The main tissue is the one that is unique for the specific organ.
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The auditory system is the sensory system for the sense of hearing.

Ear

Main article: Ear

Outer ear

Main article: Outer ear

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Elsevier, the world's largest publisher of medical and scientific literature, forms part of the Reed Elsevier group. Based in Amsterdam, the company has substantial operations in the UK, USA and elsewhere.
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outer ear is the most external portion of the ear. The outer ear includes the pinnae (also called auricle), the ear canal, and the very most superficial layer of the ear drum (also called the tympanic membrane).
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If you are prevented from editing this page, and you wish to make a change, please discuss changes on the talk page, request unprotection, log in, or .
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The pinna (Latin for feather) is the visible part of the ear that resides outside of the head (this may also be referred to as the auricle or auricula).

Purpose

The purpose of the pinna is to collect sound.
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antitragus.

External links

  • SUNY Labs 30:01-0105
  • Norman/Georgetown lesson3 ( externalear ) (#6)
  • Diagram at bodymodforums.

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Areolar connective tissue (or loose connective tissue) is the most widely distributed connective tissue type in vertebrates.

Location

It can be found in the skin as well as in places that connect epithelium to other tissues.
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adipose tissue or fat is loose connective tissue composed of adipocytes. Its main role is to store energy in the form of fat, although it also cushions and insulates the body.
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Connective tissue is one of the four types of tissue in traditional classifications (the others being epithelial, muscle, and nervous tissue.) It is largely a category of exclusion rather than one with a precise definition, but all or most tissues in this category are similarly:
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Cartilage is a type of dense connective tissue. It is composed of collagen fibers and/or elastin fibers, and can supply smooth surfaces for the movement of articulating bones.
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Blood is a specialized biological fluid consisting of red blood cells (also called RBCs or erythrocytes), white blood cells (also called leukocytes) and platelets (also called thrombocytes) suspended in a complex fluid medium known as blood plasma.
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Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome
Classification & external resources

ICD-10 Q 87.3

OMIM 130650
DiseasesDB 14141

eMedicine ped/218  

MeSH C16.131.077.
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Myocardial infarction
Classification & external resources

Diagram of a myocardial infarction (2) of the tip of the anterior wall of the heart (an apical infarct
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Coronary heart disease
Classification & external resources

ICD-10 I20-I25
ICD-9 410 - 414 , 429.2

Coronary heart disease (CHD), also called coronary artery disease (CAD), ischaemic heart disease, atherosclerotic heart disease, is the end result
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A nerve is an enclosed, cable-like bundle of axons (the long, slender projection of a neuron). Neurons are sometimes called nerve cells, though this term is technically imprecise since many neurons do not form nerves, and nerves also include the glial cells that
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An erogenous zone is an area of the human body that has heightened sensitivity and stimulation of which normally results in sexual response. Depending on the individual, this could include any and all areas of the body, but the majority of men and women have common erogenous zones.
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Body piercing usually refers to the piercing of a part of the human body for the purpose of wearing jewelry in the opening created. Body piercing is a form of body modification.
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An earring is a piece of jewelry that is worn on the ear. They are worn by both genders, although until recently in western cultures, they were more typically worn by women, but are making a comeback in males.
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Stretching (commonly referred to as gauging, though this is considered erroneous), in the context of body piercing, is the deliberate expansion of a healed fistula (hole in the skin) for the purpose of wearing body piercing jewelry.
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Otoplasty, is a cosmetic surgery to change the appearance of a person's external ears. Otoplasty can take many forms, such as bringing the ears closer to the head (often called ear pinning), reducing the size of very big ears, or reshaping various bends in the cartilage.
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sensory system: in this case, vision, for the visual system. ]]

A sensory system is a part of the nervous system responsible for processing sensory information.
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The auditory system is the sensory system for the sense of hearing.

Ear

Main article: Ear

Outer ear

Main article: Outer ear

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The vestibular system, or balance system, is the sensory system that provides the dominant input about our movement and orientation in space. Together with the cochlea, the auditory organ, it is situated in the vestibulum in the inner ear (Figure 1).
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The outer ear is the external portion of the ear.

Pinna, or auricle

The visible part is called the pinna and functions to collect and focus sound waves. Many mammals can move the pinna (with the auriculares muscles) in order to focus their hearing in a certain direction
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The pinna (Latin for feather) is the visible part of the ear that resides outside of the head (this may also be referred to as the auricle or auricula).

Purpose

The purpose of the pinna is to collect sound.
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The prominent rim of the auricula is called the helix. Where the helix turns downward behind, a small tubercle is frequently seen: the auricular tubercle of Darwin.

Additional images



The muscles of the auricula.

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antihelix, also known as the anthelix; this divides above into two crura, between which is a triangular depression, the fossa triangularis.

Additional images



The muscles of the auricula.

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tragus, so called from its being generally covered on its under surface with a tuft of hair, resembling a goat’s beard, "goat" being the origin of the word, from the Greek tragos.
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