Z94.2 - Anthropometry & Biomechanics: Anthropometry Section

Intro to Anthropometry | Dynamic/Functional Dimension Terms | Static Dimension Terms | Reference Plates | Glossary

Cross Reference List | Primary Bibliography | Secondary Bibliography

Editorial Note: Definitions in this section are treated differently from those in the other sections, with a diagrammatic instead of strictly alphabetical listing. Anthropometry terms can be found alphabetically in the overall index. When a term is indexed as being in the Anthropometry section, the reader should refer to at least one – if not all – of the three listings in this chapter: Dimensional Terminology, Plate List, and Cross Reference List. The reader should also refer to the Glossary.

Anthropometry Glossary

ANTERIOR. Toward the front or ventral side of the body; e.g., the breast is on the anterior chest wall.

ASCENDING RAMUS. Refers to that part of the mandible or jaw which forms an angle with the main body of the jaw.

CORONAL. Frontal; any plane dividing the body into anterior (or ventral) and posterior (or dorsal) portions at right angles to the sagittal plane.

CUTANEOUS. Relating to the skin.

ECTOCANTHUS.  The external corner of the eye.

FRANKFORT PLANE. The Frankfort plane is a standard plane for orientation of the head.  It is established by a line passing through the tragion (approximately the earhole) and the lowest point of the eye socket (infraorbitale).  The Frankfort plane can be approximated by having the subject stand so that the natural line of sight is horizontal.

GLABELLA.  The most anterior part of the forehead between the brow ridges in the mid-sagittal plane.

HYPOTHENAR. The fleshy mass at the medial side of the palm.

HYPOTHENAR EMINENCE. The elevation on the medial side of the palm produced by the short muscles of the little finger.

INFERIOR. Lowermost or below; the foot is inferior to the ankle.

INFRAORBITALE.  The lowest point of the eye socket.

INTERPUPILLARY. Between the pupils.

INTERSCAPULAE. Between the scapulae (shoulder blade, q.v.).

LATERAL. Toward the side; opposite of medial.

MANDIBLE. Jaw bone.

MEDIAL. Relating to the middle or center; nearer to the median or mid-sagittal plane.

MENTON.  The inferior point on the mandible in the mid-sagittal plane; bottom of the chin.

METACARPAL. Relating to the metacarpus (plural, metacarpi), which are five bones of the hand between the carpus (wrist bones) and the phalanges.

MID-SAGITTAL. The plane vertically dividing the body through the midline into symmetrical right and left halves.

NASAL SEPTUM. The thin wall dividing the nasal cavity into halves; it is composed of a central supporting skeleton covered on each side by a mucous membrane.

OCCIPUT. The prominence at the lower back of the skull.

PALPATE. To examine by feeling and pressing with the palms of the hands and the fingers.

POPLITEAL. Relating to the posterior surface of the knee.  The popliteal point is the hollowed out region of the leg directly behind the knee where the bottom of the thigh and the top of the calf intersect.

POSTERIOR. Toward the back or dorsal side of the body; the vertebral column is posterior to the digestive tract.

PROTUBERANCE. An outgrowth, a swelling, a knob.

SAGITTAL. Any plane parallel to the mid-sagittal line vertically dividing the body into right and left portions.

SCAPULA. Shoulder blade; a large triangular flattened bone lying over the ribs, posteriorly on either side, articulating laterally with the clavicle and the humerus.

SELLION.  The point of the deepest depression of the nasal bones at the top of the nose.

SUBNASALE.  The point of intersection of the groove of the upper lip with the inferior surface of the nose in the mid-sagittal plane.

THENAR. The fleshy mass on the lateral side of the palm; the base of the thumb.

THENAR EMINENCE. The swelling on the lateral part of the palm of the hand caused by the short muscle of the thumb.

TRAGION.  The superior point on the juncture of the cartilaginous flap (tragus) of the ear with the head.

TRANSVERSE. Horizontal; any plane dividing the body into superior and inferior portions.

VERTEX.  The highest point on the head when the head is in the Frankfort plane; top of the head.

ZYGOMATIC ARCH. Cheekbone.

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