Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 27, 2026

Muscle Function Obtained with Motion Mode Ultrasound and Surface Electromyography during Core Endurance Exercise
Published on: August 25, 2022
3D Ultrasound Evaluation of the Fetal Outer Ear: Novel Biometry Ratio and Comparison of Different Surface Display
Kathleen Sondern1, Kiana Kreitz2, Kerstin Hammer3
1Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany, k.sondern@gmx.de.
Background:
The examination of the fetal ear is a promising but still challenging approach in prenatal diagnosis.
Objectives:
This study investigated a novel ear length/width ratio based on anatomical landmarks. Additionally, we compared different 3D ultrasound surface rendering modes regarding their potential to depict detailed structures of the outer ear.
Method:
We measured both the ear length and width of 118 fetal ears from 20 to 40 weeks of gestation to establish a length/width ratio. Additionally, we rendered the volumes in three different surface display modes and one adapted light position. Each image was scored regarding the visibility of distinct structures of the ear relief and indicator scores were evaluated for each mode.
Results:
The median of the length/width ratio was 1.9 with a slight decline over the gestational period. The overall visibility of the ear structures differed noticeably between the four surface display modes (p < 0.001). The post hoc comparison showed that the display mode "TrueVue" resulted in the highest indicator scores.
Conclusion:
The length/width ratio based on anatomical landmarks of the ear could prospectively be used as a marker in syndrome detection. The study showed a superiority of the surface display mode "TrueVue" for examination of the detailed ear structures.
Related Concept Videos
What is a Mode?
There can be more than one mode in a data set if multiple values have the same highest frequency. For instance, suppose that the Statistics exam scores of 20 students are: 50; 53; 59; 59; 63; 63; 72; 72; 72; 72; 72; 76; 78; 81; 83; 84; 84; 84; 90; 93. Here, the mode is 72, as it occurs most frequently, five times.
A data set with two modes is called bimodal. For example,...
Anatomy of the Ear
The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison
Odds Ratio
Poisson's Ratio
Ventilatory Modes
There are three ventilatory modes: full support, partial support, and spontaneous. These are described below.
Full Support Modes
Full support modes include controlled mechanical ventilation, continuous mandatory...

