 | The stature is the distance between the vertex and the support surface. The Vertex is the highest sagittal point of the head with respect to the horizontally oriented Frankfurt plane. For more information on how to measure stature, visit the dedicated article. |
The human species is characterized by a wide variability of stature, with a range that can vary from 135 to 200 centimeters (± 20% compared to the male standard of 165 cm). Based on this reference we talk about:
- small stature (135 to 159.9 cm);
- stature below the average (from 160 to 164.9 cm);
- height above average (from 165 to 169.9 cm);
- large stature (170 to 199.9 cm)
For heights less than 135 centimeters we speak of dwarfism; for those over two meters one speaks instead of gigantism. Considering the enormous differences between the different ethnic groups (pygmy - Vatussi, but also Sardinian - Trentino etc.), it is however necessary to adopt specific standards for each individual population.
The systematic collection of anthropometric data in the past years and the subsequent statistical elaboration have led to the formulation of particular graphs, which allow to assess the stature of an individual with respect to the average. Among these, the most widespread in the medical field are the so-called growth curves; they exist for the male population, for the female population, for pregnant women, for newborns, for children and so on. For the latter, for example, Tanner's curves are widely used, which, although based on surveys of the British pediatric population, are perfectly suited to assess the stature of Italian children.
At first glance, graphs can be difficult to interpret, especially for those who do not have adequate statistical knowledge. In reality, each curve designates a percentile, ie the percentage of the population that has a lower or higher stature than the standard. For example, a child with a height corresponding to the 75th percentile has 75% of peers with a lower stature and 25% with a higher stature.
On the basis of these statistical data the height values included between the 3rd and the 97th percentile are considered in the standard. Taking a look at the graph we see that these limits for a 19-year-old woman are, respectively, 151 and 173 cm, while for a male of the same age they rise to 162 and 186 cm.
Above the 97th percentile there is talk of altastatura (hyperstaturismo), while below the 3rd it is called bassastatura (ipostaturismo). So, in adulthood:
- a male less than 162 cm tall is considered low
- a male with a height of over 186 cm is considered high
- a female with a height of less than 151 cm is considered low
- a female taller than 173 cm is considered high
There is talk of dwarfism when adult stature is less than 130 cm in humans and 125 cm in women.
the average height is 175 cm for males and 162 cm for females
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Stature is strongly influenced by genetic characteristics and to a lesser extent by the environmental conditions in which the individual has developed from the fetal stage up to that time. The type of diet, the hygienic conditions, the illnesses suffered and even the degree and type of physical activity practiced during the years of development, can therefore tangibly influence the stature reached in adulthood. All this is confirmed by the so-called secular trend, a phenomenon that, in the last 100-150 years, has led to a significant increase in average height in industrialized countries (in Italy the height of military recruits increased by about 10 cm between 1861 and 1961). This is obviously a too short period of time to find an explanation in the genotypic variability, which is why scholars consider it an expression of the improved environmental conditions on the potential for statural growth (greater nourishment, vitamin and mineral integration of the mother during pregnancy and of the child in the first years of life, less strenuous manual work, disappearance of debilitating diseases, etc.). Not surprisingly, the increase in height has not been reported in several underdeveloped or developing countries, where in some cases a secular negative trend has even been noticed.
