Are protruding ears hereditary?

The image of the ears is an important part of people's facial features. Beautiful ears can make people look more energetic, while poor ear image will cause great damage to the image and is very unfavorable for people's foreign communication. For example, protruding ears are a common deformity, which is more common in infants and young children. Let's take a look at whether protruding ears are hereditary?

Protruding ears are a common congenital malformation. The deformity is mainly caused by the excessive angle of the navicular angle. The auricle is flat, at a nearly right angle to the skull, large, and not completely opposite. The antihelix is ​​underdeveloped, the concha is deep and large, the normal anatomical morphology of the scaphoid and antihelix disappears, the upper part of the auricle is flat, and the scaphoid-concha angle is greater than 150° or completely disappears. In a normal adult, the distance between the upper end of the auricle and the side wall of the skull is no more than 2 cm, and the angle between the auricle as a whole and the side of the skull is 30°.

Protruding ears are manifested by the excess of this distance and the enlargement of the angle, which is about 90°. The deformity is usually bilateral, with varying degrees of severity, or may only occur on one side. Most patients seeking medical treatment are men, as women’s condition is somewhat concealed due to their hair.

Protruding ears are a common congenital auricular deformity, which is generally believed to be caused by incomplete formation of the helix or underdeveloped concha cartilage during the embryonic period. These two parts of the deformity may exist separately or occur simultaneously. Protruding ears are more common bilaterally, but the degree of deformity on both sides is different. The same deformity can usually be found in the child's parents and siblings.

Among Eastern peoples, protruding ears, which are taboo in Westerners, are still considered by some to be a symbol of success, happiness and wealth. Some even believe that protruding ears are a sign that a child is smart. Therefore, although protruding ears are common in our country, few people seek treatment. However, in Western countries, the situation is completely different. Children with protruding ears are not considered blessed or smart. On the contrary, they often become the target of ridicule by their peers. The constant nicknames such as "donkey ears" and "rabbit ears" put psychological and mental pressure on the children.