Anthropometry and Human Development: Body Types and Growth

Anthropometry: Measuring the Human Body

Anthropometry is a branch of anthropology focused on the measurement of different human body parts. It provides crucial data for understanding human variation, growth, and development.

Human Body Types: Sheldon's Classification

William Sheldon classified human body types based on the predominance of three fundamental components, known as somatotypes:

• Endomorph: Characterized by a predominance of curves and significant visceral development.
• Mesomorph: Defined by the dominance of muscle and bone, indicating a robust and athletic build.
• Ectomorph: Marked by weak muscular and visceral development, typically featuring long and slender limbs.

Growth and Development of Body Systems

Nervous System Growth

The nervous system exhibits very rapid growth and maturation. By the 9th postnatal month, the brain reaches 50% of its adult weight, and by two years of age, it achieves 75% of its final weight. Although brain size at birth is close to that of an adult, its function is rudimentary, highlighting an asynchrony between structure and function in early development.

Skeletal System Development

Bone growth (osteogenesis) progresses through various stages. Bones initially originate as cartilaginous tissue, which then ossifies and hardens. Bones increase in thickness through the formation of new tissue under the periosteum, and in length through the proliferation of cartilage before ossification at the growth plates.

Key Skeletal Growth Zones

Important anatomical regions involved in skeletal growth include:

• Growth plate (epiphyseal plate)
• Upper epiphysis
• Diaphysis (shaft of the bone)
• Lower epiphysis
• Metaphysis (the wider part of the bone near the growth plate)

Subcutaneous Fat Tissue Development

Subcutaneous fat tissue steadily increases from birth, peaking around the 9th month, then gradually tapering until the 6th to 8th year of life, at which time it begins to increase again. There are significant sex differences in relation to fat tissue. Girls show a strong increase that is particularly accentuated when they reach puberty, notably in the hips and abdomen.

Muscle Tissue Growth and Performance

The muscle tissue growth curve has a shape similar to that of height: it decreases during childhood and increases significantly during adolescence, more pronounced in boys than in girls. The muscular factor is directly related to physical performance. In addition to measures of weight and height, the values of certain dimensions like skinfolds and muscle circumferences (e.g., arm and calf circumference) must also be considered for a comprehensive assessment.

Assessing Growth and Maturation Ages

Since individuals of the same chronological age may show differences in growth and maturation, doctors and sports trainers use various estimates for different purposes. The different indices used to assess biological age include:

• Bone age
• Dental age
• Somatic age (based on height/weight ratio)
• Sexual characteristics (pubertal staging)