Abstract.The shape of human auricula is characterized by specific features. The diversity of these individual characteristics can be used in forensic identification of individuals. Inter -and intrapopulation variability in the shape of auricula is not thoroughly investigated neither in Bulgaria, nor worldwide. The present study was conducted in the town of Kyustendil (Southwest Bulgaria). The examined sample comprised 240 individuals of both sexes -120 school boys and 120 school girls (11 to 18 years of age). The shape of auricula and the absence/presence of tuberculum auriculae Darwini were defined by the scale of Schwalbe-Martin and Saller (1959). The most common form of both ears in the examined group is form 6 (60.00%) followed by form 3 with 20.83%. When an additional tuberculum Darwini was present, it was mostly asymmetrically positioned in both sexes. High percentage of individuals with ears positioned in a greater distance from the surface of the head was also established. Within the examined male group, 20.83% had prominent ears, the percentage was higher in comparison with the females, where the percentage was 1.66 % lower than in males.

Behind the choice of a doctor, there is a whole world of neuroscience. The impact of the words on the conscious and unconscious level is underestimated and because of that many doctors are chosen wrongly. In order to estimate the latter impact, we asked 60 subjects who they think is responsible for the spine and to whom they will turn to for surgery. Afterwards we evaluated that not only the questions provoked the activation of different circuits through the amygdala but also a change in the response, concluding that the choice is actually emotion related process with many circuits and mechanisms of interaction. As the recent papers and books show, the operating team of the spine is playing a key role to the final outcome. To this, however, plays also a major role the fact that people do not fully understand the job of their doctor and many of them tend to make their choice based on fear. Understanding this could lead to improvement not only of the general health care but also of the final clinical outcome.