We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
HEATH- CARTER SOMATOTYPE CATEGORIES AND THEIR SEXUAL MATURATION DIFFERENCES IN 12--15- YEAR-OLD ESTONIAN BOYS AND GIRLS.
- Authors
Veldre, Gudrun
- Abstract
The aim of the study was to study the distribution of Heath-Carter somatotype categories in 12-15-year-old Estonian schoolchildren and to examine differences in maturation signs between the different Heath-Carter somatotype categories. The subjects were 356 boys and 389 girls living in Tartu (South-Estonia). Pubertal status of the subjects was assessed according to the criteria described by Tanner [30]. Self-assessment of pubic hair (PH1-PH5), axillar hair (AX1-AX5) and, in boys, genital development (G1-G5) were used; additionally the development of breast (MA1-MA5) was assessed. Testicular size was estimated by palpating the left testis and matching the size of wood ovoid of Prader orchidometer. The data about the occurrence of menarche and oigarche were also collected. The somatotypes were determined according to the anthropometric method of Heath-Carter modified for children [4]. Results: Boys of mesomorphic and central category were advanced in their sexual development, while boys with dominant endomorphy were retarded. For girls, the endomorphic category was advantageous in sexual development. Conclusions: As differences of somatotype categories could be in single sexual maturation variables essential to assess not only main variables of sexual development, but all possible sexual development characteristics. Somatotype categories advanced by some sexual variables could be retarded by other variables, especially in boys.
- Subjects
MATURATION (Psychology); SOMATOTYPES; PUBERTY; ANTHROPOMETRY; MENARCHE; HEALTH risk assessment
- Publication
Papers on Anthropology, 2004, Vol 13, p269
- ISSN
1406-0140
- Publication type
Article