Distance of ear with reference to midline landmarks of face

Background: Every individual has different craniofacial anthropometric features because of different biological, geographical, racial, and nutritional environment. Objective: To prepare database of distance of ear from midline landmarks of face and to find the gender variations of the same in individuals of Gujarat region. Material and Methods: A total of 500 (250 male and 250 female subjects) living subjects with both parents of Gujarati descent, aged between 17 and 25 years, were measured for the upper naso-aural distance (n-obs), lower naso-aural distance (n-obi), upper subnasale aural (sn-obs), lower subnasale-aural (sn-obi), upper gnathion-aural (gn-obs), and lower gnathion-aural (gn-obi). Vernier caliper was used; measurements were recorded in centimeters and unpaired t test was applied to the data using Graph pad prism_5.01. Results: Mean values of n-obs, n-obi, sn-obs, sn-obi, gn-obs, and gn-obi were 12.2 ± 0.55, 12.48 ± 0.5, 13.47 ± 0.67, 11.78 ± 0.48, 15.04 ± 0.77, and 12.36 ± 0.62, respectively, for male subjects and 11.5 ± 0.58, 11.71 ± 0.48, 12.52 ± 0.53, 10.94 ± 0.44, 13.85 ± 0.61, and 11.41 ± 0.55, respectively, for female subjects. There was significant difference between male and female subjects for each parameter. Conclusion: The study showed that there is a significant difference between male and female subjects in placement of ear with reference to midline landmarks of face. The data of this study will be useful in anthropological studies, forensic medicine, human genetics, surgical reconstruction of craniofacial anomalies/injuries, and preparation of face mask.