Is this why some people are born with that little hole just above their ear?

The mysteries of the body are sometimes impenetrable. And yet, medicine tries by all means to find explanations for those small characteristics that make up the human body. For example, have you ever wondered why we have certain bones that are useless? Or why some people are born with  a hole above their ear  ?

As Maestro has proven time and time again in the animated series Once Upon a Time… Life, the workings of human tissues, organs, and  the minor malfunctions of the human body  make it a temple that holds many secrets. Sometimes, certain people even share these secrets, which, once discovered, reveal a completely different perspective on life.

What is the hole above the ear?

You may have met someone with a little something extra. We're not talking about a small hole, usually located above the ear. Discreet though it may be, it was observed as early as the 19th century by  the scientist Van Heusinger  , and what he discovered is, to say the least, strange.

According to the scientist who studied this small hole above the ear in 1864, it is a  "hereditary birth defect ." Today, this small anomaly is known as a preauricular sinus. This extremely rare phenomenon affects approximately  0.1% of the American population  , 1 in 100 people in England, and about 4 to 10% of Asian populations, as well as some African populations.

What is the purpose of the preauricular sinus?

But what exactly is this preauricular sinus? Does it serve a purpose? According to scientists, this hole above the ear simply connects  the sounds and resonances  perceived by the ears to the brain, reports  Les Éclaireuses . However, while it can be easily removed with a minor surgical procedure, it's worth noting that these holes can also  become infected .

So pay attention to your piercing above your ear as soon as it starts to change color. If this small malformation turns red, it's a sign that it's infected. You should then consult a doctor quickly.

While the suspected function of the preauricular sinus is known, its origin remains unclear. However,  an evolutionary biologist  named Neil Shubin has shared his theory. According to him, this hole above the ear—sometimes both ears, but most often the right one—is  a remnant of fish gills —no less! For now, this hypothesis is merely a popular belief and has not yet been scientifically proven.

When you think about it, the human body has anomalies that remain unexplained to this day. For example, the excessive number of unnecessary bones in our skeleton,  the coccyx being a prime example . The coccyx is even thought to be a vestige of our tailed ancestors, as explained. So, is it really so improbable that holes above the ears are a relic of the past? Science will have the final say.