anotia

9.9

A birth condition where the outer ear is missing on one or both sides

noun
/əˈnoʊtiə/

Specialized

: anotia

Grade IV, known as anotia, is the most severe form of microtia, which is characterized by the complete absence of the external ear (7, 8).

Examples

In the anotia type, the external ear is completely absent.

Academic text (2014)
With this technique, it is possible to reconstruct the auricle in cases of anotia, low hairline, and also for secondary cases.

Academic text (2014)
Anotia is a rare birth defect where the baby is born without an external ear.
Parents of children diagnosed with anotia often seek reconstructive surgery to enhance their child's appearance.
Medical professionals use the term anotia to describe total absence of the external ear at birth.

How Underdeveloped

anotia

Specialized

9.9

microtia

Specialized

1 9.9

Surface Forms

anotia singular

anotias plural

Morphology

anotia = ear (opaque) = an + otia

Although the negative prefix 'an-' is visible, the root 'otia' is a specialized medical combining form (not a standalone English word), so learners cannot reliably infer 'absence of external ear' from the components.

Etymology

Anotia comes from the Greek parts a- meaning 'without' and ot- / oto- meaning 'ear', the same root you see in medical words like otitis. So anotia literally means 'no ear' and names the birth condition when the outer ear is missing.