Pinna (anatomy) - Abnormalities

Abnormalities

There are various visible ear abnormalities:

• Prominent ear (also known as bat ear or wingnut ear) — an ear that protrudes
• Cryptotia (hidden ear) — upper auricular sulcus not visible
• Cup deformity — helical rim is compressed
• Darwinian tubercle (auricular tubercle) — a projection from the helical rim
• Lop ear — the top of the helical rim folded over
• Macrotia (also known as big ears, or hypertrophy of the ears)
• Microtia (small or partially developed ears)
• Preauricular sinus (small holes usually visible from birth at the front of the ears where the pinna joins the head)
• Accessory Auricles (small pieces of skin at the front of the ears where the pinna joins the head, vestigial remnants of the developing ears migration to its final position)
• Rim kinks — a kink of the helical rim
• Selhurst's handle (also known as cup handle) — an ear that can be 50% larger than normal.
• Stahl’s bar (also known as Spock ear) — third crus (in between the superior crux and inferior crux) making the top of the ear pointed
• Zaheer's ear — having a deformed anti-tragus, which appears as a bump, as opposed to a protrusion, which would normally allow the snug insertion of earbud headphones
• "Railroad Track" appearance; marked prominence of crus helix. Often present in Fetal Alcohol syndrome.