UNIT 1 ANTHROPOMETRY Introduction Practical is basically an application of the theoretical knowledge. It occupies an irreplaceable envious position for understanding the intricacies of human growth and development. Human growth and development is continuously on move to understand our past, present and future intrinsically. It has opened the doors for applied research in diverse fields and continues to be committed to understand every aspect of man more minutely, because of its strength to absorb new techniques in its framework. It also communicates immense information about the shape, size, body composition and physique of an individual. It facilitates in appreciating the variations in various body measurements among different individuals and different populations. Not only this but practical in human growth and development play a pivotal role in assessing physical growth of children, health status and nutritional status of adolescents and adults is also assessed with the help of these measurements. Disease and determination of certain physiological functions like vital capacity, basal metabolic rate and work capacity rely on anthropometry and its valuable contribution for racial comparisons or variations in body. Anthropometry data is an asset for designing proper equipment for use in industry and defence purposes, spaceships, garments, etc and also to provide norms of the physique of any population and trends of changes in morphological traits. Various body measurements involving segmental lengths, breadths, circumferences and skinfolds are used for research and designing the instruments and apparatus used by us. Anthropometry constitutes two components a) Osteometry b) Somatometry Osteometry is the measurement of skeleton. Further osteometry encompasses measurement of skull along with measurement of teeth as well as measurement of post cranial skeleton. Somatometry is made of two words 'soma' means living and 'metric' that means measurement, so in simple terms it means measurement of living beings. Somatometry a division of anthropometry is thus defined as a systematic technique to measure living body that includes head and face. Somatometry represents the outermost measurement of the body living or dead. Anthropometrists working globally on different topics are continuously in search not only of new instruments to strengthen their findings but also are looking for new measurements and are continuously in the process to improvise the old ones. The techniques of roentogrammetric, photogrammetrics, and body composition analyzer are just to name a few. Anthropologists have realized and appreciated the standard techniques for presentation and analysis of the data as it gives universal recognition. Statistical procedures have tremendously increased with a constant effort for improving in better interpretation of the data. Several statistical packages which are computer based are also available for statistical treatment of the data to give a wider spectrum to the information collected. There are varieties of instruments used in anthropometry like anthropometer, skinfold calipers, sliding caliper, spreading caliper, wide spreading calipers (pelvimeter), measuring tape, weighing machine etc. One can take accurate measurements reading with proper training and relentless practice. It is extremely important to attain high level precision and accuracy by the measurer in assessing individual status with respect to a particular norm. This reflects how consistent an Anthropometrist is with self or with other measurers. The accuracy relates to how closely obtained measures match to actual measure. 5 Practicals There are standard norms which are followed while taking measurements. The measurements of the body should be taken preferably in minimum clothes as it helps in locating the landmarks; the subject should be standing in erect posture 'and bare foot on floor while taking vertical measurements. Her/his back and hips should be against the wall. The feet should be touching the wall and running parallel to each other. Generally arms should be in standard arm hanging position with palms of the hand touching the thighs. The shoulders should not be raised up during measurement. The anthropometer rod should be placed at the back of the individual incase of the non availability of the wall. The head should be in eye-ear plane. While taking the measurement, only right side measurement values of subjects are taken though, some take it on the left side. The kinanthropometerists and sports people are basically interested in the most-dominant side, therefore measurements on the right is preferred. However, in case of bilateral asymmetry, it is suggested that both sides' measurements should be taken. Incase of head and face measurements, the subject should be asked to sit on a stool of about 40 cm height. The head should be oriented in eye-ear plane, landmarks marked with skin marking pencil. While taking the projective heights in sitting position the subject should sit on a 40 cm height stool or table. The head should be oriented in eye-ear plane, body stretched to maximum and the shoulder should run parallel to the sitting surface. The thighs should run parallel to the sitting surface and at right angles to the leg which should be hanging freely. Description of anthropometric instruments To understand human growth and its development, anthropometry holds significant position. Anthropologists have devised number of instruments for taking measurements on living as well as skeleton. It involves different types of instruments for taking various measurements depending upon its nature. Here we will describe the common instruments used in anthropometry. Anthropometer Rod Anthropometer rod is the most sought after instrument in anthropometry as it is used in number of measurements on living beings. It is widely used to take heights and transverse breadths of the body. Martin's Anthropometer is most commonly used. The anthropometer consist of four equal graduated segments which when joined tightly forms a rigid rod which measures 200 ems. The graduation begins at the base of the lowest segment on one side and from first segment on the other side on opposite side. The uppermost segment bears at its upper end fixed casket, while there is another casket which can move up and down along the oriented rod. The movable one registers the height measurements. The casket holds the cross bars which are also graduated. The movable casket provides an elongated window on its body, through which the graduations can be seen and upper border of this opening gives a particular measure. 6 Anthropometer Rod Source: www.indiamart.com Manipulations Anthropometry Anthropometer is used for measuring vertical distance of different landmarks in relation to standing floor. Hold the instrument vertically close to subject's body. Index finger of the left hand is used to point the landmark while right hand is used to operate the movable casket and push the crossbar by thumb so that tip of the crossbar touches the landmark. Note the reading. All precautions concerning the anatomical position must be taken. The rod must be kept erect and vertical while taking the measurement reading. Rod compass: The first segment of the anthropometer used as a large sliding caliper by adjusting the crossbar is rod compass. It is graduated in descending order starting from the top fitted with fixed socket. It is used to measure breadth. Manipulations Hold the fixed casket with crossbar with your left hand and movable casket with right hand. In doing so the two index fingers should lie on the two cross bars tip- to-tip. Note the reading at the level of the inner side of the movable casket. Spreading caliper: It is mainly used for taking head and face measurements where curved areas are involved. It consists of two long arms which are curved outwards and straight on the other end which is screwed together so that arms can move freely. A meter scale (35cm) is fixed to one of the arms and passes though the socket of the second arm. The screw at the back socket, provides to and fro movement to the scale. The free ends of the long arms are provided either with blunt (used in measurement of living beings) or pointed end (used in measurements of skeletons). Spreading calipers are available in two sizes • One of 25 cm for taking smaller measurements • Large variety of spreading caliper of 60 cmis called pelvimeter used for measuring pelvis. Spreading Caliper Source: www.indiamart.com Manipulations. Hold the instrument at the curved ends of the caliper by both the hands. Place the middle finger below and thumb above and index finger resting on the curved border of the caliper. The index finger basically is used to locate the landmark and place the knob of the caliper on it. Keep the graduated scale free for easy sliding through casket. 7 Practicals Sliding caliper: It consist of long straight scale 25 cm graduated on both sides and 12.5 cm long, two cross bars one fixed on one end of the scale and other one parallel to the fixed one which can slide over the scale with the help of socket provided with a screw to be used to fix the socket at any place. Both the arms are projected to an equal distance on both sides of the scale. The free end of the caliper is graduated upto 50mm this is used for measuring depths when the movable socket is fitted on the scale in reverse order. Sliding caliper is used to measure shorter breadths. The blunt end is used to take measurement on body while the sharp end on bones. Sliding Caliper Source: www.KinanthrEometric Asses Manipulations Hold the metal plate against palm with fingers so that the thumb can regulate the sliding casket. Place the fixed end of the crossbar on one landmark while adjust the sliding crossbar on the other landmark by moving the casket. Read directly from the graduated metal plate at the level of the inner side of the sliding crossbar.