Earlobe

Earlobe is the lower, fleshy, bulbous part of the human ear. It is composed of tough areolar and adipose connective tissues, lacking the firmness and elasticity of the rest of the auricle (the external structure of the ear). In some cases, the earlobe is connected to the side of the face (known as "attached earlobes"), while in others it is free or "unattached."

Anatomy

The earlobe contains many nerve endings, and for some people is an erogenous zone. The earlobe does not contain cartilage unlike the rest of the ear. It is made up of areolar and adipose connective tissues. The earlobe's blood supply comes from the posterior auricular artery and anterior auricular arteries, branches of the external carotid artery.

Cultural practices

Earlobes have long been subjected to practices such as ear piercing and earlobe stretching. For some cultures, earlobe stretching is a rite of passage, while in others, it is done for aesthetic reasons. Ear piercing is one of the oldest known forms of body modification, with artistic and written references from cultures around the world dating back to early history.

Health and medicine

In medicine, earlobes are often examined for a variety of reasons. They are used in plastic surgery, especially in cases of ear trauma, and for the reconstruction of ears in cases of congenital disorders such as microtia. They are also used in genetic studies and research due to the widely held belief that earlobe attachment is a simple genetic trait, although this is disputed.

See also

• Ear
• Earring
• Body modification

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Earlobe

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