Why do people have earlobes?

Outside the Body

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by Mya Kagan (whyzz writer) >> more about the author

Ear today, gone tomorrow! – All animals and humans are built the way they are (with fingers, or feathers, or fur, or feet, and so on) because over hundreds of years of time, they evolved out of need to have certain features that would help them survive.

The earlobe is a part of what medical professionals or scientists might refer to as your “external ear,” also known as the “auricle.” The auricle’s main job is to help direct sounds into your ear by gathering them in the rounded, cup-shaped part of your ear known as the “concha.”

Since the earlobe is not as essential to the sound-gathering job, it’s a little less clear exactly why we have them. Most likely it used to have a more important or direct function than it does now, such as helping with movement of the ear or helping more with the collection of sound!

Earlobes… hang on!

Did you know that humans have two different “types” of earlobes? Some people have earlobes that are “attached” to the side of their face, while other have earlobes that are not entirely “attached” to the side of their face!

Take a look in the mirror at your earlobes. Are they attached, or unattached?

Find out what kinds of earlobes your parents and siblings have. Did you know that the type of earlobe you have is determined by the type of earlobe your parents have?! Weird!

Posted by Seung01 on 2011-02-21 17:25:20

My kid's convinced the earlobe is made from rubber.