introduction to practical anthropology

1. Practicals -Anthropology
Joint session
by
Dr. Renu Tyagi & Dr. Mary Grace
IGNOU Academic Counselors

2. What is Anthropometry?
• Greek
– Anthro- : man
– -pometry: measurements
– Literal meaning: “measurement of humans”
• The study of measurements or proportions of the human
body according to sex, age, etc. for identification
purposes
– Dimensions of bones, muscles, and adipose (fat) tissues

3. Applications of Anthropometry
• Identification of repeated criminals
–Cesare Lombroso's Criminal Anthropology
(1895): “murderers have prominent jaws and
pickpockets have long hands and scanty
beards”.
–Eugene Vidocq: identification of criminals by
facial characteristics
• Prevention of impersonation
• Differentiation between the ethnic groups

4. Anthropometry Today
• Biometrics
• Nutrition and wellness
– Weight Training
• Ergonomics
– dynamic anthropometry: Measurements taken on and around
the figure when it is in any position other than the fixed ones.
– Everyday life
• Evolutionary Significance
– Changes in humans overtime
• Monitor growth in children
– Cranial Anthropometry

5. Anthropometric Measuring Tools
Tape
Spreading
Caliper
Anthropometer
Medical scale
Goniometer

7. Terminology
• Frankfort Horizontal (FH)
1. A plane passing through three points of the right and left porion
and the left orbitale.
2. First proposed at the Craniometric Congress held in Munich,
Germany, 1877.
3. An orientation of skull in a consistent and reproducible position.
4. Comparisons: natural head position; horizontal visual axis; and
horizontal plane.

8. Frankfort Horizontal

9. Cranial Anthropometry: 16 Facial Zones
– en (endocanthion)
– eu (eurion)
– ex (exocanthion)
– ft (frontotemporale)
– fz (frontozygomaticus)
– g (glabella)
– gn (gnathion)
– obi (otobasion inferius)
– op (opisthocranion)
– po (porion)

10. Cranial Anthropometry: 16 Facial Zones
(cont.)
– n (nasion)
– sn (subnasale)
– t (tragion)
– tr (trichion)
– v (vertex)
– zy (zygion)

11. Anthropometric-landmarks of the head

12. Terminology
• Basion: the midpoint of the anterior margin of the foramen magnum.
• Gnathion: the most anterior and lowest median point on the border of the mandible.
• Glabella: the most forward projecting point in the midline of the forehead at the level
of the supra-orbital ridges and above the nasofrontal suture.
• Opisthocranion: the most posterior point on the skull not on the external occipital
protuberance. It is the posterior end point of maximum cranial length measured from
glabella. It is determined instrumentally.
• Euryon: the two points on the opposite sides of the skull that form termini of the lines
of greatest breadth. The two points are determined instrumentally.
• Zygion: the most lateral point of the zygomatic arch. It is determined instrumentally.
• Orbitale: the lowest point in the margin of the orbit; one of the points used in defining
Frankfort Horizontal.

13. Terminology
• Porion: the uppermost lateral point in the margin of the external auditory
meatus. The right and left porion with the left orbitale define the Frankfort
Horizontal
• Mastoidale: the lowest point of the mastoid process
• Gonion: the midpoint of the angel of the mandible between body and ramus.
• Bregma: the intersection of the coronal and sagittal sutures in the midline.
• Lambda: the intersection of the sagittal and lambdoidal sutures in the midline.
• Nasion: the intersection of the nasofrontal suture with the midsagittal plane.
Nasion is the uppermost landmark for the measure of facial height.
• Menton: the lowest median point of the chin.
• Pogonion: the most anterior point in the midline of the chin.

14. Landmarks- trunk & extremities

15. Standing Height

16. Sitting Height

17. Upper Leg Length

18. Knee Height

19. Arm Length

20. Circumferences
Chest circumference in the normal position – in the back the tape
measure runs directly below the lower angles of the shoulder
blades, while in the front in men it goes directly above the breast
nipples (thelion) and in women over the middle of the sternum
(mesosternale
Arm circumference relaxed – measured at the greatest
protuberance of the biceps brachii (musculus biceps brachii),
perpendicular to the axis of the arm, with the arm relaxed and
hanging by the side, at the level of the mid-point between the
acromiale point and the elbow´s tip (olecranon)
Arm circumference flexed – measured at the same level as the
arm circumference relaxed, with the maximum contraction of the
flexors and extensors. The upper limb is bent at right angle at the
elbow joint.

21. Circumferences
Waist circumference is measured at the
narrowest point above the iliac crests, half
the distance between the iliac crests and the
lower edge of the ribs.
Abdominal circumference is measured at the
level of the navel (omphalion) horizontally;
abdominal muscles are relaxed.
Hip circumference – measured horizontally
in a standing position with feet together, at
the level of the greatest protuberance of the
buttocks (over underwear or thin sportswear

22. SKINFOLDS
1. Triceps skinfold – the fold runs vertically; measured on the
posterior surface of the arm above the triceps brachii muscle,
half the distance between the bony tip of the shoulder
(acromion) & elbow joint (olecranon).
2. Biceps skinfold – measured at the anterior surface of the
arm above the biceps brachii muscle, at the same level as
the arm girth; the fold runs vertically; the arm is completely
relaxed, with the palm of the hand facing forward
3. Subscapular skinfold (below shoulder blade) – the fold
runs slightly obliquely along the rib line; measured directly
below the bottom angle of the shoulder blade.
4. Abdominal skinfold – the fold runs horizontally; it is lifted
one third the distance between the navel and the anterior
superior iliac spine, i.e. closer to the navel .

23. SKINFOLDS
5. Chest skinfold II – the fold runs obliquely along the rib line; it
is lifted at the intersection of the 10th rib & anterior axillary line.
6. Suprailiac skinfold – the fold runs along iliac crest; measured
at point of intersection of crest & anterior axillary line.
7. Thigh skinfold – the fold runs vertically at the anterior surface
of the thigh, above the quadriceps femoris muscle; measured at
half the distance between the trochanterion (greater trochanter)
and tibiale landmarks; the subject stands with the feet slightly
apart.
8. Calf skinfold II – measured in a seated position; the leg is
resting on a pad so that the knee is at a right angle. The skinfold
is pulled vertically on the medial (inner) side of the calf at the
point of the maximum girth.

24. 1 - triceps
2 - biceps
4 - under
shoulder blade
(subscapular)
5 - abdomen
6 - chest II
7 - suprailiac
8 - thigh
9 - calf II

25. Skin Fold
Triceps
Subscapular
Suprailiac

26. • Practice 1
Aim-
List of measurements with
instrument used ,procedue
and precautions
• Measurement (landmarks)
(Units) Cranium 1 Cranium
2 Cranium 3
• Maximum Cranial Length
(g-op) (cms)
• Maximum Cranial Breadth
(eu-eu) (cms)
• Least Frontal Breadth (ft-
ft) (cms)
• Length of the Foramen
Magnum (ba-o) (cms)
S.No. Measurem
entwith
unit
Respondent
1
Respondent2 Respondent
3
1 Height(cm)
2 Sitting
height(cm)
3 Body
weight(kg)
4 Head
Breadth(cm
)

27. Questions?