The earlobe is the soft lower part of the auricle, made of fat and fibrous tissue with no cartilage. Its size and whether it is attached or free vary between people.
| Location | Lowest part of the auricle, below the antitragus |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Great auricular nerve |
| Blood Supply | Posterior auricular artery; Superficial temporal artery branches |
No essential role in hearing; used for ear piercing and blood sampling.
Piercing can cause keloids, tears or nickel allergy. A diagonal crease across the earlobe (Frank sign) has been associated with coronary artery disease. The lobe is sometimes used for capillary blood samples during exercise testing, such as lactate measurement.
Overgrown scar tissue after piercing, more common in darker skin.
Splitting of the lobe from heavy earrings or trauma.
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