The outer ear
The outer ear is made up of a number of ridges of cartilage. The role of the outer ear is to collect and channel soundwaves into the eardrum, where the information is then relayed to the brain.
Protruding ears
The outer ear is designed to protrude (stick out) from the side of your head at an angle of about 20-35 degrees. This protrusion enables the ear to gather sound more effectively.
However, in a small number of people, the angle of protrusion is higher than 35 degrees, resulting in what are commonly recognised as protruding ears. Protruding ears can run in families, although some people have them for no obvious reason.
While protruding ears cause no physical problems, they can sometimes cause psychological distress.
As ears are one of the first parts of the body to develop to full adult size, protruding ears can be particularly noticeable in children, who may experience teasing and bullying as a result.
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