Morphological Features of the Human Auricle and Their Association with Age Among Adults in Ogun State

Auricular morphology undergoes progressive changes with ageing, including alterations in ear length, lobule elongation, and surface wrinkling, which have attracted attention in both forensic age estimation and clinical dermatology. Establishing age-related auricular changes in Nigerian adults will contribute to forensic databases and age-estimation protocols applicable to skeletal and living individuals in the South West zone. This study aims to document the morphological features and dimensions of the external ear across different age groups among adults in Ogun State, South West Nigeria. A cross-sectional design will be employed, with participants from rural and urban communities in Abeokuta and its environs recruited through community health centres. Ear height, width, and lobule length will be measured bilaterally using a Vernier calliper. Photographic documentation will allow qualitative classification of auricular features. Regression analysis will be used to model the relationship between ear dimensions and chronological age. The expected outcome is a set of age-related auricular morphometric references applicable to forensic age estimation and the development of facial ageing guidelines for the South West Nigerian population.

Keywords: auricular morphology, age estimation, ear dimensions, forensic anatomy, Ogun State