We all have special characteristics that set us apart, but not all of them are physical or important enough to be noticeable at first glance.
However, if you pay attention to the details, you’ve probably noticed that some people have very small piercings above the ears. Maybe you have it too and never realized it.
It’s easy to confuse it with a piercing, birthmark, or scar from an injury, but it’s actually something more interesting to only a small percentage of people.
Known as sinusitis or pitting, the birth defect is not common in the United States and less than 1% of the population suffers from it. The number is slightly higher in other parts of the world, such as Asia and Africa, where 4-10% of people are affected.
Some cultures even have superstitions about them. In Ethiopia, it is believed to bestow wealth on someone.
It was first documented in 1864 by a scientist named Van Heusinger, and it is a birth defect that occurs during the early stages of fetal development.
It’s also a genetic trait, which means the chances of your offspring getting it are higher if you or someone else close to you has it.
The aperture, usually located where the ear cartilage meets the face, results from the first and second pharyngeal arches.
The deformity, which can occur in both ears, is not associated with hearing loss, but there are very rare cases when it is associated with a genetic syndrome. “A child born with a preauricular fossa will be examined for other abnormalities to rule out these syndromes,” explains the hospital.
Although experts classify it as a defect, there are many theories that the sinuses in front of the ear are more than that.
Evolutionary biologist Neil Shubin put forward a particularly interesting argument.
Shubin’s claim stems from the theory of evolution that humans and fish share a common ancestor that lived millions of years ago.
Some scientists believe that birth defects such as premenstrual sinuses are just evidence that proves this bizarre theory.
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