Techniques of Somatometry & Somatoscopy

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Anthropology

Techniques of Somatometry & Somatoscopy

Module : 09 Techniques of Somatometry & Somatoscopy

Prof. Anup Kumar Kapoor Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi

Development Team

Principal Investigator

Paper Coordinator

Content Writer

Content Reviewer

Dr. P. Venkatramana Faculty of Anthropology, School of Social Sciences, IGNOU, Delhi

Dr. P. Venkatramana Faculty of Anthropology, School of Social Sciences, IGNOU, Delhi

Dr. Rashmi Sinha Faculty of Anthropology, School of Social Sciences, IGNOU, Delhi

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1. Introduction 2. Anthropometry 3. Somatometry

3.1 Instruments used in Somatometry

3.2 Guidelines for measurements of Somatometric parameters 3.2.1. Anatomical landmarks

3.2.2. List of Landmarks and their description

3.2.3. List of Somatometric parameters and instruments used 3.2.4. Indices

4. Somatoscopy

4.1. Somatoscopic parameters

4.1.2. Importance of ear in medical practice and forensic application Summary

Description of Module Subject Name Anthropology

Paper Name Research Methods and Field work

Module Name/Title Techniques of Somatometry & Somatoscopy

Module Id 09

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 To discuss the definitions of somatometry and somatoscopy;

 To study the importance, applications and instruments used in somatometry;

 To understand the anatomical landmarks;

 To know the list of somatometric parameters and indices used for studying physical status and instruments employed;

 To understand the clinical and forensic application of information on external ear

1. Introduction

Physical Anthropologists employ various tools to study human biological variation such as anthropometry, serology, dermatoglyphics, mitochondrial haplotypes, single nucleotide polymorphisms, gene and genome sequencing. Anthropologists used anthropometry and morphological traits (hair, skin, ear lobe etc.,) in earlier research studies to classify humans in to races but still reported in research journals as tools to study population variation in nutritional status assessment and in association with disease conditions.

2. Anthropometry

Anthropometry refers to the measurements of the human body. Anthropometry is categorized into three groups for convenience. They are somatometry (measurement on living human body), osteometry (measurement on skeletal long and short bones) and craniometry (measurement on the skull).

3. Somatometry

Measurements on the living human is made using well defined anatomical landmarks. Somatometry is useful to compare different populations, designing aircrafts, space ships, furniture and uniforms to defense and paramilitary personnel; assessment of nutritional status; to study the effect of interventions; developing non-invasive markers for diagnosis; to formulate policy and; to understand micro-evolutionary process as they are reflected in genetic and morphological traits in human

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populations (Bhasin, 2006). Variations in human body dimensions are hypothesized to be due to interaction of environment with biological, nutritional, economic and cultural factors (Bhasin, 2006).

Somatometric studies in India have shown that on an average Indians have medium height (163.06 cm), mesocephalic (Cephalic index: 76.06); mesorrhine (nasal index:75.53) and mesoprosopic (facial index:86.34); (Bhasin,2006).

3.1 Instruments used in somatometry

Anthropometer: This instrument consists of four calibrated segments. First segment is called Rod Compass. All segments when combined show the scale of 200cm. It has two sleeves i.e. upper fixed sleeve and a movable sleeve. Cross bars are inserted through the sleeves and the measurements are made (Figure1).

Rod compass

Figure1: Anthropometer

Source: http://www.seritex.com/gpm-anthropometer-100/)

Spreading Caliper: This instrument is available in two sizes i.e 25 cm and 60 cm. The spreading calipers are made with blunt or rounded ends and sharp or pointed ends. The spreading caliper with rounded or blunted ends is used to make measurements on living human being, whereas, the spreading caliper with sharp or pointed end is employed to record measurements on skeletons (Figure 2 and 3).

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Source: http://dksh.com/cs/dksh_id/en/industries/business-line/tec-ai/anthropological-instruments

Figure 3: Spreading caliper with sharp or pointed ends

Source: http://dksh.com/cs/dksh_id/en/industries/business-line/tec-ai/anthropological-instruments

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Sliding caliper: The slider caliper is used for measuring breadths of short distance. The fixed and sliding arm have both sharp and blunted ends. The sharp ends and blunted are for measurements on skeleton and living human being, respectively (Figure 4).

Figure 4: Sliding caliper

Source: http://dksh.com/cs/dksh_id/en/industries/business-line/tec-ai/anthropological-instrument

Skinfold caliper: The caliper is used for measuring thickness of skin fold at various sites of the body and provide information about the amount of subcutaneous fat at each measurable site. A pressure of 10gm/mm2 is used at the contact surface of the arms ranging from 20-40mm² (Figure 5).

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Source: : http://www.slideshare.net/ektabelwal/nutritional-anthropometry

Tape: It has a width of 1 cm and graduations in mm. The tape is made up of steel. All girth measurements are made using the tape.

Goniometer: This instrument has round upper shape and bottom straight base. On the round shape graduations are given in mm. It has a movable needle. A protractor is attached to the base. The

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Presence of slot with spring and screws allows the attachment with instruments like sliding or spreading calipers (Figure 6).

Figure 6: Goniometer

Source: http://www.exportersindia.com/supertechsurgicals/goniometer-new-delhi-india-305697.htm

3.2.Guidelines for measurements of somatometric parameters: Measurements are recorded in standing position with minimal clothing without shoes and head should be in ear-eye plane (Frankfurt plane). Measurements are generally made on the right side of the body unless there is evidence of extra musculature in which case, measurements should be made on left side. In case of infants or children, measurements can be made by advising them to sit on a stool of 40 cm height. The allowed personal errors for various measurements are of the following: head measurement (0.5-1.0mm); head height (2.0 mm); most of the body measurements (3.0-5.0mm), weight (0.1kg); stature, arm span (10.0 mm) and skinfold thickness (1mm). It should be ensured that zero is set while taking measurements on weighing scale and skinfold caliper.

3.2.1. Anatomical landmarks: It may be defined as any anatomic feature such as fold, prominence, duct, vessel consistently present in a tissue that serves to indicate a specific structure or position (Medical dictionary). These anatomical landmarks are used to make measurements of somatometric

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parameters. There are several landmarks used in Somatometry. Some of the landmarks are given below:

3.2.2. List of Landmarks and their description:

Landmark Description

Acromion Lateral point on the lateral margin of the

acromial process

Acropodion Distal point on the toe-cap of the first or second toe

Alare Lateral point on the nasal wing

Euryon Lateral point on the sides of the head

Glabella Point between the eye brow ridges above nasal

root

Gnathion Point on the lower margin of the lower jaw at mid-saggital plane

Gonion Lowest posterior and most lateral point on the

angle of the lower jaw

Inion Point on tuberculum linearum on posterior

protuberance in mid-saggital plane

Mesosternale Point on the anterior border of the sternum in mid-saggital plane

Metopion Point on the highest projection of the frontal protuberance in mid-saggital plane

Nasion Point on the nasal root in mid-saggital plane

Pronasale Anterior point on the tip of the nose

Prosthion Point on the lower margin of the gums of the upper jaw in mid-saggital plane

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Pternion Hind most point on the heel of the stretched

foot

Radiale Highest point on the upper margin of the

radiale capitulum

Subnasale Point at the lower margin of the nasal septum meets the integument of upper lip

Substernale Lowest point at the lower edge of the sternum

in mid-saggital plane

Thelion Point at the middle of the nipple

Tibiale Highest point on the inner glenoidal margin of

the head of tibia

Tragion Point on the upper margin of tragus 1-2 cm

below the helix spine

Vertex Highest point on the head

Zygion Lateral point on the zygomatic arch

3.2.3 A list of some of the somatometric measurements with land marks and instruments used is presented below:

Mesurement Landmarks Instrument used

Height Vertex or Stature Vertex-Floor Anthropometer Arm Span Dactylia of one arm-dactylia of other

arm

Anthropometer

Sitting Height Vertex Vertex-Sitting surface of the subject Anthropometer Sitting Height Acromion

or Shoulder Height Sitting

Acromion-Sitting surface of the subject

Anthropometer

Biacromial Breadth or Distance between two Acromia Rod Compass

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Traverse Chest Breadth Laterally placed points of the ribs at the height of mesosternale

Rod Compass

Sagittal Chest Depth Mesosternale-Horizantally placed point in the vertebral column

Rod Compass

Waist Breadth Straight distance between the two most laterally placed points on the contour of the tunk when abdomen is relaxed

Rod Compass

Bi-Cristal Breadth Straight distance between the two iliocristralia

Rod Compass

Hip Breadth or Bitrochanteric Breadth

Straight distance between the most lateral points on the bumps

Rod Compass

Total Arm Length or Length of the Upper Limb

Straight distance between acromion- dactylion

First two segments of Anthropometric Rod

Arm Length without Hand

Straight distance between acromion and stylion

Rod compass

Length of Upper Arm Straight distance between acromion and radiale

Rod compass

Length of Forearm Straight distance between radiale and sternum

Rod compass

Length of Hand Straight distance between the midpoint of line joing the two stylion and dactylion of the middle finger

Sliding caliper

Length of Thumb Straight distance between phalangion I of the thumb and dactylion of the

Sliding caliper

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Hand Breadth Straight distance between metacarpal radialis and metacarpal ulnare

Sliding caliper

Length of Foot Straight distance between metatarsal tibiale and metatarsal fibulare

Sliding caliper

Breadth of Foot Straight distance between metatarsal tibiale and metatarsal fibulare

Sliding caliper

Chest Girth

1.Chest Girth Inspiration

2.Chest Girth Expiration

Circumference of the chest when breathing normally. Recorded at both inspiration and expiration.

Recorded when subject inhale as much as possible and highest value is noted

Recorded when subject exhale and the least value is noted

Tape

Waist Girth Circumference of the abdomen at the most lateral contour of the body between the ribs and intestine

Tape

Hip Girth Circumference of the hips at their widest portion

Tape

Maximum Girth of the Upper arm

Circumference of the upper arm at the maximal development of biceps muscles

Tape

Maximum Girth of Forearm

Maximum circumference of the lower arm under the elbow joint

Tape

Least Girth of the Forearm or Girth of

Least cricumferne of the forearm proximal to the styloid process

Tape

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Maximum Girth of Thigh

Circumference at the lowest point in the gluteal furrow and horizontal to the thigh

Tape

Maximum Calf Girth Circumference where calf muscles are most developed

Tape

Body weight Total body weight. Measuring should be avoided in post meal

Weighing machine

Biceps skin fold thickness

Back of upper arm Skin fold caliper

Triceps skin fold thickness

Back of upper arm over the triceps muscles

Skin fold caliper

Subscapular skin fold thickness

Below the inferior angle of scapula Skin fold caliper

Chest skin fold thickness Long axis running from the top of the anterior axillary fold to the nipple

Skin fold caliper

Suprailiac skin fold thickness

Above iliac crest Skin fold caliper

Abdomen skin fold thickness

1 cm below umbilicus and 3cm lateral

Skin fold caliper

Maximum Head Length Straight distance between glabella and opisthocaranion

Spreading caliper with blunt ends

Glabella-Inion Length Straight distance between glabella and inion

Spreading caliper with blunt ends

Maximum Head Breadth Straight distance between the two Spreading caliper with

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eurya blunt ends

Minimum Frontal Breadth

Straight distance between the two frontotempoalia

Spreading caliper with blunt ends

Bi-Auricular Breadth or Bi-Tragion Breadth

Straight distance between the two tragia

Spreading caliper with blunt ends

Breadth of Bizygomatic Arch

Straight distance between the two zygia

Spreading caliper with blunt ends

Bi-Gonial Breadth Straight distance between the two gonia

Spreading caliper with blunt ends

Nasal Breadth Straight distance between the two alaria

Sliding caliper with flat arm

Auricular Height or Head Height

Projective distance between tragion and vertex

Rod compass with head height needle

Total Head Height Projective distance between vertex and gnathion

Rod campass

Physiognomic Facial Height

Straight distance between trichion and gnathion

Sliding caliper

Morphological Facial Height or Total Facial Height

Staright distance between nasion and gnathion

Sliding caliper

Physiognomic Upper Facial Height

Straight distance between nasion and stomion

Sliding caliper

Morphological Upper Facial Height

Straight distance between nasion and prosthion

Sliding caliper

Nasal Height Straight distance between nasion and subnasale

Sliding caliper

Nasal Depth Projective distance between tip of the Sliding caliper

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septum Nasal Length or Length

of Nose

Straight distance between nasion and pronasale

Sliding caliper

Landmarks are given in Figures 7.

Figure 7. Land marks

Adapted from Singh and Bhasin (1989)

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Using the somatometric measurements, a number of indices can be calculated. Some of the important indices are specified below:

3.2.4. Indices

Relative Upper Extremities Indices or Upper Extremities-Stature Indices:

a.Arm Length without Hand X100 Height Vertex

b. Lenth of Upper Arm X 100 Height Vertex

Relative Lower Extremities Indices or Lower-Extremities – Stature Indices:

a. Leg length without Foot X 100 Height Vertex

b. Length of Thigh X 100 Height Vertex

Relative Biacromial Breadth Index or Biacromial Breadth-Stature Index:

Biacromial Bredth X 100 Height Vertex

Relative Chest Girth Index or Chest Girth-Stature Index:

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Chest Girth X 100 Height Vertex

Circumference of Arm Index:

Maximum Girth of Upper Arm X 100 Maximum Girth of Fore arm

Mammillo-Acromial Index :

Bithelion Breadth X 100 Biacromial Breadth

1. Ponderal Index:

1000 X 3 Height Vertex

Cephalic Index:

Maximum Head Breadth X 100 Maximum Head Length

Physiognomic Facial Index:

Physiognomic Facial Height X 100 Breadth of Bizygomatic Arch

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Morphological Facial Height X 100 Breadth of Bizygomatic Arch Morphological Upper Facial Index:

Morphological Upper Facial Height X 100 Breadth of Bizygomatic Arch

Upper Facial Index:

Physiognomic Upper Facial Height X 100 Physiognomic Facial Height

Sagital Naso-Facial Index:

Nasal Height X 100 Morphological Facial Height Jugo-Mandibular Index:

Bigonial Breadth X 100 Breadth of Bizygomatic Arch Vertical Cephalo-facial Index:

Morphological Facial Height X 100 Head Height

Nasal Index:

Nasal Breadth X 100 Nasal Height

4. Somatoscopy

Somatoscopy is the observation and description of morphological features of individuals (Singhai, 2014). Somatoscopic observations earlier were used to classify humans in to races and to study variations among human populations. Somatoscopic observations are human traits which cannot be presented in numbers and but can be described using standard charts and models developed by pioneers like Brown, Steindamm, Ackermann, Martin, Saller, Erhardt, Schultz, Ziegelmayer,

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Weninger, Topinard. Morphological triats have forensic application such as identification of suspected person; clinical applications like reconstruction of deformed body parts and identification of abnormalities for example Edward’s cleft lip/cleft palate syndrome (Singh and Purkait, 2009).

Morphological methods are useful to study the correlation of structure and function of human body (Singh and Bhasin, 1989). For studying the morphological traits among human populations, close-up photographs are taken and humans are classified.

Human beings can be classified into different groups based on somatoscopic variables like body postures, upper and lower extremities with hand and foot, fingers, foot, toes, skin colour, hair, head and face, eyes, nose, lips, etc.

4.1. List of Somatoscopic parameters

Skin Colour: To study the skin colour on human subjects, the observable body parts are forehead, cheeks, chest, abdomen above the navel, shoulder blades, axis of the upper arm, inner side of the upper arm, palm and inner side of thigh and sole. If for some cultural reasons the above body parts are not allowed to be seen by the researchers, the investigator can make observations at least on forehead and inner side of the upper arm. Human skin colour differs from dark in Africans to very light or weight in Celtics. Various factors influence the skin colour such as melanin, hemoglobin, the level of blood oxygenation, chromophores, oils, soaps, presence of wrinkles, larger growth of hair, disease, malnutrition and change of climate has been shown to affect skin colour(Singh and Bhasin,1989;

Treesirichod et al., 2014). Skin colour of the subject can be determined by matching with shades in chart developed by Taylor, Luschan, Broca, Fritsch, Hintz and Schultz. Skin colour can also be determined spectrophotometrically (Minolta chromameter and Mexa meter) (Treesirichod et al., 2014) and also using photographs. In Felix von Luschan skin color chart, the skin colour ranges from 1 to 36.

(Figure 8).

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Figure 8. Felix von Luschan skin color chart adapted from Treesirichod et al., 2014

The skin sites evaluated for skin colur include midpoint between the elbow and the wrist on the medial aspect of the volar regions and the medial aspect of the dorsal regions of both forearm (Treesirichod et al., 2014). The codes used for skin colur in this chart include (1, 2: Yellowish White; 3: Carmine White; 4,5: Yellowish; 6: Light Brown;7,8: Fawn White;9-11:Carmine White; 12,13: Pinkish White;14-29: Light Brown to Brown;30,31: Dark Brown;32: Reddish Brown; 33,34:Dark Brown;35:Greyish Black and 36: Black) (Singh and Bhasin, 1989).

Hair: Form, colour, texture, quantity and presence of whorls in hair can be used to classify human subjects. The body parts where hair can be observed includes hair on head, beard, genitals, eye lashes, eye-brow ridges, face. If for some cultural reasons, subjects may not be allow certains parts of the body too be seen by the investigator then the research can make observations on head and face.

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Hair Colour: Several researchers have proposed hair colour charts such as Fischer and Saller, Tisserand and Fischer and Schultz. According Fischer and Saller hair colour table there are 30 different shades of natural hair colour. Factors like hair oil, perfumes, dyes, malnutrition,light, air and sea water have been observed to influence the hair colour.

Fischer and Saller hair colour classification (Figure 9)

Figure 9: Hair colour classification given Fischer and Saller Source: https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/lab/forensic-science-

communications/fsc/july2000/ubelaker.htm/ubelake1.htm

Blond Dark Brown Red

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A: Ash Blond M-O: Dark Blond I-IV: Red

B-E: Light blond P-T: Brown V-VI: Reddish Brown

F-L: Blond U-Y: Dark Brown

Hair Form: There are three hair forms like straight or sleek, wavy and Frizzly.Water, soap and artificial curling have been shown to influence hair form

(a)Staight (Thicker) or Sleek (thinner) (Lissortrichous)

(b)Wavy(Cymatotrichous): Flat or Broad or Narrow waved or curly (c) Frizzly(Ulotrichous): Closer or Wider knit or Pepper-corn or Spiral Hair Texture : It is of three types i.e Coarse or Medium or Fine

Quantity: Based on quantity, humans can be classified as Thin or Medium or Normal or Thick or Dense.

Presence of hair whorls: Presence of hair whorls can be categorized based on quantity or direction

(a) Quantitity: Single or Double or Multiple (b) Direction: Clockwise or Anticlockwise

Head and Face: Human beings can be classified in to different somatscopic groups based on vertex, occiput, total face and forehead features in head and face.

(1) Vertex

(a) Curve: Flat or Slight or Medium or Well-arched (b) Shape: Ovoid or Pentagonoid or Elliptical or Sphenoid (2) Occiput :

(a) Projection: Flat or Moderate bulging or Strong bulging (b) Shape: Barrel or Gable shape

(3) Total Face:

(a) Height: Long or Medium or Short

(b) Diameter: Narrow or Medium or Broad or Very Broad

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(d) Frontal Outline of the Face: Eliptical or Oval or Round or Square or Quadrangular or Rhomboid or Trapezoid or Pentagonoid (Figure 10)

Figure 10: Face shapes

(Source: https://www.tumblr.com/search/face%20shapes)

Eyes: Human beings can be classified based eye opening axis, direction and folds of the eye.

(a) Eye Opening Axis: Horizontal or Slanting or Oblique (b) Direction: Outwards or Inwards

(c) Eye folds: Slight or Heavy or Deckfalte or Mongoloid or Epicanthous (Figure 11)

Figure 11: Epicanthic fold

Source: http://s1.zetaboards.com/anthroscape/topic/4840284/1/

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1. Nose: There are seven observable variables in nose structure such as nasal root, nasal bridge, tip of the nose, nasal wings or alae, nasal septum, nasal cavity or surface of nasal cavity (Figure 12).

1. Nasal Root:

(a) Height above Inner Angle of Eye: High or Medium or Low (b) Depth from Glabella: High or Medium or Deep

(c ) Breadth: Broad or Medium Broad or Narrow

( d) Shape: Quite Flat or Flat or Medium or High or Very High 2. Nasal Bridge:

(a) Projection: Upwards or Downwards

(b) Shape from Profile: Concave or Verticle or Convex (c ) Nasal Bridge Profile: Continuous or Wavy or Angular

Figure 12: Nose

Source: http://shieldgraft.blogspot.in/2010/12/nomenclature-of-nose-this-could-be.html

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(a) Projection: Upwards or Downwards

(b) Profile of Tip: Rounded at point or Fully Rounded or Flat 4. Nasal Wings or Alae:

(a) Thickness: Thick or Medium or Thin (b) Height: Height or Low

(c ) Bulge: Slight Flat or Slight or Strongly Bulging

5. Nasal Septum:

(a) Size: Long or Medium or Short (b) Breadth: Narrow or Broad

(c ) Direction: Upwards or Downwards or Horizontal ( d) Profile: Septum Visibible or Not

6. Nasal Cavity:

(a) Shape and Size: Very Narrow or Narrow or Long Oval or Short Oval or Round or Broad or Very Broad

(b ) Size and Length: Small or Big

7. Surface of Nasal Cavity: Horizontal or Projecting Downwards or Upwards

2. Lips: For classification of human beings, both upper and lower lip are studied separately. Within each lip, three features namely form, mebral lip and mentolabial fold are observed. The meaning of integumentary meaning is pertaining to or composed of skin.

(1) Integumental Upper Lip:

(a) Form: Straight or Convex or Concave

(b) Membral Lip: Thin or Medium or Thick or Puffed-up (c) Mentolabial Fold: High or Medium or Low

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(a) Form: Straight or Bulging Downwards

(b) Membral Lip: Thin or Medium or Thick or Puffed (c) Mentolabial Fold: High or Medium or Low

(1) Prognathism (Figure 13) ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iCbxbgzsuE):

(a) Type: Alveolar or Facial

(b) Size: Slight or Medium or Marked

Figure 13: Prognathism

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iCbxbgzsuE

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Figure 14: External ear

Source: http://health-advisors.org/outer-ear-diagram/outer-ear-diagram-2/

(1) Ear Lobe:

(a) Presence: Present or Absent (b) Size: Long or Medium or Short

(c) Shape: Tongue-shaped or Triangular or Square or Arched (d) Thickness: Thick or Medium or Thin

(e) Attachment: Free or Attached

(f) If Attached: One quarter or Half or One Third or Two Third or Three Quarters or Fully Attached

(2) Darwin’s Tubercle: Present or Absent

(3) Antihelix Curvature: Strong or Medium or Weak

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(5) Helix and Antihelix: Equal to each other or Narrower or Broader (6) Tragus and Antitragus:

(a) Size: Small or Weak or Medium (b) Shape: Long or Round or Knob-shaped (7) Scaphoid:

(a) Size: Broad or Middle or Narrow (b) Shape: Flat or Medium or Deep

4.1.2. Importance of ear in medical practice and forensic application:

Low set ears defined as upper edge of the auricle is below the exocanthion level and lower edge below the chelion level. Low set ears are used for diagnosis of congenital anomalies like Patau syndrome and Edward syndrome. Ear provide the supplementary information about the person’s identity and also serve as biometric triat to strengthen the primary biometric system. The famous sandalwood smuggler Veerappan’s dead body, was confirmed by observation of ear available in the ante and post-mortem photographs by forensic people. It was reported that Veerappan had unique ear characteristic such as a flat tragus contiguous with the curved portion of the helix and enlarged and squarish lobule, which served as marker to identify him (Singh and Purkait, 2009).

Summary

 Physical anthropology is a study of human biology within the frame work of evolution.

Physical anthropologists study human variation to obtain clues about how humans adapted to the environment over time. Various tools are employed by physical anthropologists to understand variation like anthropometry, serology, dermatoglyphics, mitochondrial haplotypes, single nucleotide polymorphisms, gene and genome sequencing. Physical anthropologists used anthropometry earlier to classify human beings into races. Physical anthropologist employ somatometric and somatoscopic approaches to study human variation.

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 Somatometry is defined as measurement on living human body and somatoscopy is the description of visible morphological traits.

 Measurements on the living human is made using well defined anatomical landmarks.

 For somatometric measurements, various instruments are used and they include anthropometer, head height needle, spreading caliper, sliding caliper, skinfold caliper, tape and goniometer etc.,

 Measurements are made on standing position with minimal clothing without shoes and head should be in ear-eye plane (Frankfurt plane). Measurements are generally made on the right side of the body

 In human body, 55 landmarks are well defined starting from acromion to zygion.

 One hundred twenty six somatometric parameters are reported on living human body.

 Fifty indices are reported using somatometric parameters to classify human beings into different groups.

 Somatoscopic observations are visible morphological traits which can be confirmed by using models and charts. The somotoscopic traits have clinical applications for describing congenital anomalies and forensic applications. The list of somatoscopic traits includes skin colour, hair, head and face, cheeks, eyes, nose, lips, mouth, teeth, lip etc.,