Anthropometry

An Introduction

Lecture Module
FK Unsri
2008
 Stretch of the Measuring
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1779

Stadiometer
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
History of Anthropometry
1883- Alphonse Bertillon: system of
identification depending on the unchanging
character of certain measurements of parts
of the human body
1884: 241 multiple offenders were
identified
Bertillonage- first adapted by the French
police
1887: introduced in the United States by
Major McClaughry, the translator of
Bertillon's book, when he was the warden
of the Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet.
Alphonse Bertillon: Forensic
Anthropometry
History of Anthropometry
1888: Francis Galton starts research
on Finger Prints to further
anthropometry
1892: Francis Galton publishes Finger
Prints
1894: England adopted the system.
1903: Will West & William West
Galtons Discovery because of
Anthropometry?
My attention was first drawn to the ridges in 1888 when
preparing a lecture on Personal Identification for the Royal
Institution, which had for its principal object an account of the
anthropometric method of Bertillon, then newly introduced into
the prison administration of France. Wishing to treat the subject
generally, and having a vague knowledge of the value
sometimes assigned to finger marks, I made inquiries, and
was surprised to find, both how much had been done, and how
much there remained to do, before establishing their theoretical
value and practical utility.
Enough was then seen to show that the subject was of real
importance, and I resolved to investigate it; all the more so,
as the modern processes of photographic printing would enable
the evidence of such results as might be arrived at, to be
presented to the reader on an enlarged and easily legible form,
and in a trustworthy shape. Those that are put forward in the
following pages, admit of considerable extension and
improvement, and it is only the fact that an account of them
seems useful, which causes me to delay no further before
submitting what has thus far been attained, to the criticism of
others.

Excerpt from Galtons Finger Prints

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 races
Eugenics in Europe
Aryans from Jews: The Bureau for Enlightenment on
Population Policy and Racial Welfare recommended the
classification of Aryans and non-Aryans on the basis of
measurements of the skull and other physical features,
craniometric certification, required by law. The consequences
for not meeting requirements included denial of permission to
marry or work, and for many it meant the death camps
Intelligence tests became associated with Anthropometry
Debate over Anthropometry
General Problems with
Anthropometry:
Cost and error of the instruments used
Education needed to be able to take the
measurements
Error in calculation and measurements
Slow
Will West Case
Body Identification using
Anthropometry
Bertillon used 5 basic measurements:
head length
head breadth
length of middle finger
Length of left foot
length from the elbow to the extremity of the middle finger
Today that list is more extensive:
Gender
Height
Weight
Age
Bicep circumference, buttock depth, chest breadth, elbow
circumference, eye height, forearm to hand, ear breadth, head
circumference, head length, hip breadth sitting, hip breadth
standing, sitting height, waist depth, wrist breadth, wrist
circumference to name a fewthere are currently 107
measurements
 Anthropometric Measuring Tools
Anthropometer Goniometer Tape
Sliding Calipers: large

Medical scale
and small

Spreading Caliper
Anthropometric Measuring
Techniques
Weight
Stature
Posture:
Standing
Frankfort
Sitting
Arm Span
Head Length
Head Breadth
Ear-to-Head Height
Nasal Length
Nasal Breadth
Skeletal Index = Sitting Height x 100/Stature
Cephalic Index = Head Breadth x 100/Head Length
Nasal Index = Nasal Breadth x 100/Nasal Length
Span/Stature Index = Arm Span x 100/ Stature
Cranial Capacity
Anthropometric Measuring
Techniques
Basic Chart of What is
Measured
Basic Areas of Where
to Measure
Basic Anthropometric Measuring
Examples
Basic Anthropometric Measuring
Examples
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
Biometrics
the automatic identification of a
person based on his/her physiological
or behavioral characteristics
Verification vs. identification
Verification: Am I whom I claim I am?
involves confirming or denying a
person's claimed identity
Identification: Who am I?
Biometrics Applications
Forensics: criminal identification and
prison security
Prevention of unauthorized access to
ATMs, cellular phones, smart cards,
desktop PCs, workstations, and
computer networks
Automobiles: replace keys with key-less
entry and key-less ignition
Border control and national ID cards
Biometrics Programs
Fingerprint Identification
Hand Geometry: geometric shape of the
hand for authenticating a user's identity
Face Location: an arbitrary black and white,
still image, find the location and size of
every human face
Multibiometrics: integrates face recognition,
fingerprint verification, and speaker
verification in making a personal
identification
 Biometrics in Use

Heathrow Airport- Iris

BenGurion Airport: FacePass: Face
Hand Geometry Verification

Grocery Store Payment:

Fingerprint US- Visit Program
INSPASS: Hand
Geometry
Cranial Anthropometry
Also known as Craniometry
measurement of the skull and face
3 ways to categorize the skull
dolichocephalic: long and thin
brachycephalic: short and broad
mesocephalic: intermediate length
and breadth
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.
Frankfort Horizontal
Cranial Anthropometry: 16 Facial
Zones
en g (glabella)
(endocanthion)

gn (gnathion)
eu (eurion)

obi (otobasion
ex (exocanthion)
inferius)

ft op
(frontotemporale)
(opisthocranion)

fz
(frontozygomatic
po (porion)
us)
Cranial Anthropometry: 16 Facial
Zones (cont.)
n (nasion)

sn (subnasale)

t (tragion)

tr (trichion)

v (vertex)

zy (zygion)
Cranial Anthropometry Facial Zones
Maximal cranial
breadth

Maximal cranial
length
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.
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.
3- D Anthropometry
3D anthropometry, the measure of humans, can be
greatly aided by the use of accurate digital humans.
We'll take a look at how to create these types of
accurate digital humans and how they can be used for
the measurement of entire populations
Programs:
Cyberware
DigiSize
CySlice
Ear Impression 3-D Scanner
SizeUSA: 3D measurement system, a body scanner
feeding data into measurement extraction software.
CAESAR: generate a database of human physical
dimensions for men and women of various weights,
between the ages of 18 and 65
Virtual Models: virtually try on clothes, makeup etc.
Future Endeavors of
Anthropometry?
Standing Height
Sitting Height
Upper Leg
Length
Knee Height
Arm Length
 Circumferences

Buttock
Abdominal/waist
 Subscapular
Skin Fold
Triceps

Suprailiaca
Questions?
Thank you for your time!