ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Anatomy Journal of Africa. 2019. Vol 8 (2): 1540 - 1543

A STUDY ON TONGUE ROLLING, TONGUE FOLDING AND

CERUMEN TYPE IN A NIGERIA POPULATION
EBEYE OLADUNNI ABIMBOLA

Correspondence to Ebeye Oladunni Abimbola Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical

Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. Email:
princessebeye@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
This study investigated Variation in cerumen type, tongue rolling and tongue folding abilities of the
Esan people of Southern Nigeria. This cross-sectional survey investigated 400 volunteered adult
subjects (176 males and 224 females) between the ages of 18 and 60 whose parents and grandparents
were of Esan ethnicity. The tongue and ear wax type were observed and examined physically thus
classifying subjects into rollers/none-rollers, folders/none-folders and dry or wet cerumen type. Results
indicates that tongue rollers (72.9%) were more than non-rollers (27.3%), in the same vein, tongue
folders (68.3%) were also more than non-folders (31.7%) in the studied population. A larger
percentage of the population also had wet ear wax (65%) while (35%) had dry ear wax. The chi-
squared analysis of variance showed that there is a significant difference (P<0.05) between those who
can roll their tongue and those who cannot, those that could fold their tongue and those who cannot
as well as between those with wet ear wax and dry ear wax. This study therefore provides data on the
distribution of tongue rollers, tongue folders as well as variability in cerumen type. This data can be of
importance to the anthropologist and forensic investigators.

Key Words: Variation, Genetics, Inheritance, tongue rolling, tongue folding, cerumen type

INTRODUCTION
Studies have shown that no two tongue rolling/folding are dominant over none
individuals are exactly the same; differences rolling/none folding.
occurring in humans could be as a result of The tongue is a mobile organ made up
selection, migration and mode of inheritance of muscular tissues and covered with mucosa
(Bhasin et al., 1992). Inheritance is the mode membrane; it can assume various shapes and
of transmitting biological traits from parents to forms (Keith and Arthur 2006). It is involved in
offspring through gene (Ordu et al., 2014). production of sounds, deglutition and taste. The
The understanding of the principle of aptness to roll the lateral edge of the tongue in
inheritance enables geneticists to predict the an upward manner into a tube is tongue rolling.
possibility of an offspring acquiring certain traits The muscles of the tongue allow some
from parents (Hugo et al., 2003). The genetic individuals to fold their tongues into specific
constitution of organism is manifested shapes and roll their tongue into a tube. The
phenotypically as observable trait like earlobe rolling and folding of the tongue is often
attachment, rolling and folding of tongue and described as a dominant trait with simple
cerumen type. The mode of inheritance mendelian inheritance. The dominant gene is
describes how allele work together to produce believed to be responsible for folding and
traits (Rostand and Tétry 1964). rolling of the tongue while the inability to roll
Genes are composed of two or more variates, and fold the tongue is associated with recessive
called alleles. Individuals may inherit two gene (Hsu, 1948). A study by Sturtevant in
identical or two different alleles from their 1940 classified the ability to manipulate the
parents which may interact in dominant and tongue into rollers and non- rollers, with the
recessive manner. For example, the alleles for roller being dominant. He also noted that about
Submitted 14th February 2019. Published online 14th June 2019. To cite: Abimbola EO. A study on tongue rolling, tongue
1540
folding and cerumen type in a Nigeria population. Anatomy Journal of Africa. 8 (2): 1540 – 1543.
 Anatomy Journal of Africa. 2019. Vol 8 (2): 1540 - 1543

70% of people of Europeans are able to roll up the other hand are more likely to have the wet
the lateral edges of the tongue, while the type. According to Theresa, Cerumen type has
remaining 30% could not (Sturtevant, 1940). been used by anthropologists to track human
Odokuma et al., also observed a higher migratory patterns, such as those of the
incidence of rollers and folder among the Eskimos (Bass and Jackson 1977).
Urhobo people of Nigeria (Odokuma et al., These morphologic traits although believed to
2008). Maishnam reported higher percentage of be passed from parent to offspring in a simple
rollers and folders in six different type tribes of Mendelian pattern is been argued and it is now
Manipur, India (Maishnam, 2012). believed that environmental factors also has a
Ear wax also known as cerumen is a yellowish part to play (Overfield, 1985)
waxy substance secreted in the ear canal by The variability of these traits among population
sebaceous glands located in them. It is for can be useful to the physical anthropologist and
protection, cleaning and lubricating the canal. forensic experts in studying population. This
Ear wax could be wet or dry. Wet ear wax is study therefore seeks to provide standard data
taught to be inherited in dominate manner on the distribution and variability pattern of
following simple mendelians law. East Asians tongue rolling, tongue folding and cerumen
and Native Americans also have less of wet type among the Esan ethnic group of Nigeria.
type of cerumen. Africans and Europeans on

METHODOLOGY
This cross-sectional survey adopted the simple 2. Tongue folder: Subjects who have the
random sampling technique in choosing 400 ability to roll their tongue into various
(176 males and 224 females) subjects between shapes are classified as folders.
the ages of 18-60 years after ethical approval 3. Cerumen type: Cerumen type was
from the Department of Anatomy and Cell classified as either wet or dry, wet
Biology, Delta State University, Abraka. Their earwax is sticky and yellowish to brown
parents up to second generation were Esan in colour while dry is crumbly and gray
people. Consent was sort and given by to tan. Ear wax was cleaned and
subjects. Tongue rolling and folding status as observed with the aid of cotton bud.
well as cerumen type was determined by Data obtained was subjected to statistical
physical examination. The following were analysis using SPSS version 20. Frequency
identified; distribution was used to assess most prevalent
1. Tongue roller: Subjects who could roll traits. Chi square was then used to determine
the lateral edges of the tongue upwards association between traits and gender.
into a tube were classified as roller.
RESULTS

Table 1 depicts frequency distribution of tongue roller and folders as well as cerumen type among male
and female Esan people of southern Nigeria.

Table 1: Frequency distribution of some Morphogenetic trait in Esan ethnic group of Nigeria
Sex TONGUE FOLDING TONGUE ROLLING CERUMEN TYPE
Folders Non-folder Rollers Non-roller Dry Wet
Male (n=176) 125(71.0%) 51 (28.9%) 123 (69.9%) 53 (30.1%) 58 (33.0%) 118 (67.0%)
Female 148 (66.1%) 76 (33.9%) 168 (75.0%) 56 (25.0%) 82 (36.6%) 142 (63.4%)
(n=224)
M & F(n= 400) 273 (68.3%) 127(31.7%) 291(72.7%) 109 (27.3%) 140 (35.0%) 260 (65.0%)

1541
 Anatomy Journal of Africa. 2019. Vol 8 (2): 1540 - 1543

DISCUSSION
Morphogenetic traits can be used to investigate in males as compared to their female
differences that arise within and among counterparts (Hernandez,1980). Likewise, a
different populations due to genetic variations. study conducted by Odokuma et al., amongst
The knowledge and understanding of unrelated volunteer students of Delta State
inheritance pattern help geneticists to predict University, Nigeria, revealed frequency of
the possibility of an offspring inheriting certain folders (120) and rollers (87) were more
traits from parents (Ordu et al., 2014). common in females than in their male
Variation in cerumen type, tongue rolling and counterparts but were however, insignificant
tongue folding among the Esan’s of Edo state, relative to gender (Odokuma et al., 2008). A
Nigeria was investigated as shown in Table 1 similar study amongst Indians showed no
above. A higher occurrence of folders (68.3%) significant difference between male and female
and rollers (72.7%) were observed in the samples but a lower incidence of tongue rollers
population studied. Chi-squared analysis of and folders (Das and Sengupta 2003).
variance showed there is a significant difference Result on cerumen type revealed a larger
(P<0.05) between those who could roll and fold percentage 65% (Males 29.9%, Females
their tongue and those who cannot. The 35.5%) had wet ear wax while 35% (Males
findings above are similar to the study of Alfred 14.5%, Females 20.5%) had dry ear wax. The
Sturtevant among Europeans, Odokuma et al., chi-squared analysis of variance showed that
among the Urhobo people of Nigeria and there is a significant difference (P<0.05)
Maishnam Rustam Singh in six different type between those who had wet ear wax and those
tribes of Manipur, India and that of Bulliyya who had dry ear wax. Between males and
among Vannekula Kshatriya caste population of females however, no significant difference was
Andhra. (Sturtevant, 1940; Bulliyya, 2003; observed (P>0.05). This is at variance with a
Odokuma et al., 2008; Maishnam, 2012). study done in Indians where it was observed
When males were compared with females, a that dry/flaky cerumen is highly frequent in the
higher percentage (71.0%) were folders as males while the wet or waxy type predominates
compared to (66.1%) female folders. The in females though the differences was not
opposite was observed in rollers as a higher statistically significant (Jaswant and Sarthak
percentage (75.0%) of females could roll their 2004).
tongue as compared to (69.9%) of males.
There was, however, no statistically significant In conclusion, there is slight variation in results
association between gender among folders and when compared to other populations. Tongue
rollers (P>0.05). rolling, tongue folding, and cerumen type can
These findings were not different from previous thus be used to investigate the diversity that
studies as reported by Hernandez (1980) who arises within and among different populations
showed that ability to roll the tongue was lower due to genetic diversity.

REFERENCES

1. Bhasin MK, Walter H and Danker-Hopfe H. 1992. The Distribution of Genetical, Morphological
and Behavioural Traits among the People of Indian Region. Kamla-Raj Enterprises, Delhi.
2. Ordu KS, Didia BC, Egbunefu N. 2014. Inheritance Pattern of Earlobe Attachment
amongst Nigerians. Greener Journal of Human Physiology and Anatomy; Vol. 2 (1), pp. 001-007
3. Hugo P, Eliaman Q, John K. 2003. History of evolution and its concept.; 6th Ed, New York City
55-66..
4. Rostand J and Tétry A. 1964. An Atlas of Human Genetics. Hutchinson Scientific & Technical,
London

1542
 Anatomy Journal of Africa. 2019. Vol 8 (2): 1540 - 1543

5. Keith ML and Arthur DF. 2006. Clinical Oriented Anatomy.5th Edition, Lippincott Williams and
Wilkins 20-21.
6. Hsu TC. 1948. Tongue up folding: a newly reported heritable character in man. J. Hered;39:
187-188
7. Sturtevant AH. 1940. A new inherited character in man. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA, 26: 100-102
8. Odokuma EI, Eghworo O, Avwioro G, Agbedia U. 2008. Tongue rolling and Tongue Folding
Traits in an African Population Int. J. Morphol.,26(3):533-53
9. Maishnam Rustam Singh. 2012. Tongue Rolling and Folding in Six Populations of Manipur,
India. Frontier Anthropology, 1 : 41-45 © Anthropological Society of Manipur

10. Bass EJ, Jackson JF. 1977. "Cerumen types in Eskimos". American Journal of Physical
Anthropology.47 (2): 209–10
11. Overfield, Theresa. 1985. Biologic variation in health and illness: race, age, and sex differences.
Menlo Park, Calif: Addison-Wesley, Nursing Division. p. 46
12. Bulliyya G. 2003. Study on Anthropogenetic traits in a Caste Group of Andhra Pradesh.
Anthropologist, 5; 3:197-199.
13. Hernandez M. 1980.La movilidad del pabellon auditivo. Trab. Antropol,XVIII (4): 199-203
14. Das B, Sengupta S. 2003. A Note on Some Morphogenetic Variables among the Sonowal
Kacharis of Assam. Anthropologist, 5(3): 211-212.
15. Jaswant Singh and Sarthak Sengupta. 2004. Some Morpho-genetic and Behavioural Traits
Among the Assamese Sikhs Anthropologist,6(4): 253-255

1543