Glossary

Definitions of landmarks are accompanied by examples of standards containing corresponding dimensions (reference in standards).

Referring to the point projecting furthest laterally on the summit of the shoulder blade. It is a skeletal landmark that can be felt, with the arm hanging loosely, as a process of the shoulder on the rear at the top of the upper arm. Biacromial denotes both right and left acromia.

Reference in standards:
This landmark forms part of the definition of the biacromial shoulder breadth, dimensions for which are stated in DIN 33402-2, EN ISO 14738, EN ISO 11064-3, DIN 5566-1 and EN ISO 15537, as the distance in a straight line between the two acromia.

The study and measurement of the physical dimensions and mass of the human body and its constituent (external) parts.

Anthropometric data are dimensions (such as height, length, depth, breadth and circumferential dimensions) of the human body and its parts.

A record of discrete human body dimensions (anthropometric data) and background information (demographic data) of a group of persons (random sample).

The (arithmetic) mean is the quotient of the sum of all discrete observations and the total number of observations. It indicates the average of all discrete values of a variable.

A group of persons exhibiting one or more shared characteristics that influence their anthropometric distribution.

"Bi" refers to a paired relationship; see acromial.

"Bi" refers to a paired relationship; see deltoid.

A body scan is an indirect three-dimensional measurement of the surface of the body.

Referring to the point on the tip of the spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra projecting furthest to the rear. It is a skeletal landmark that generally causes a clear bulge in the skin on the back of the neck.

Reference in standards:
This landmark forms part of the definition of the cervical height sitting (trunk length), which is stated solely as a definition in EN ISO 7250-1 and ISO 20685 as the vertical distance from the seat surface to the tip of the spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra.

Referring to the furthest lateral bulge of the deltoid muscles forming the lateral contour. The deltoid is a soft-tissue landmark that takes the form of a bulge in the lateral shoulder contour when the arm is hanging loosely. Bideltoid refers to both the right-hand and left-hand deltoid landmarks.

Reference in standards:
This landmark forms part of the definition of the bideltoid (shoulder) breadth, dimensions for which are stated in DIN 33402-2, EN ISO 3411, EN ISO 11064-3 and EN ISO 15537, as the distance in a straight line over the furthest-projecting soft tissue parts of the right and left deltoid muscles on the upper arm.

Demographic data are background information (such as sex, place of residence or work, occupation/vocation and level of education) that are used in order to describe members of the user population and/or population groups.

Absolute dimensions are body dimensions resulting directly from a measured value (distance between two landmarks, circumference of a body part).

Direct dimensions are generally distance dimensions describing an actual distance in a straight line between two landmarks or the shortest distance between a landmark and the floor.

Distant from the main mass of the body.

On the rear of.

Calculated values are values obtained by the subtraction or addition of other values. In order for supplementary dimensions of a test subject to be calculated, it is very important for the body posture to remain unchanged during the course of measurement.

Towards the side on which the little toe is located (towards the fibula).

Plane of the body determined by the vertical and transverse axes.

Functional dimensions cover the function of body parts in their immediate environment and under the conditions imposed by this environment.

The glabella is the most prominent point of the elevation between the hairy eyebrows in the lower part of the forehead in the midfacial plane. It is a skeletal landmark.

Reference in standards:
This landmark forms part of the definition of the head length, dimensions for which are stated in DIN 33402-2, EN ISO 3411 and EN ISO 15537, as the distance in a straight line from the glabella to the point projecting furthest from the back of the head. The landmark also forms part of the definition of the sagittal arc, dimensions for which are stated in DIN 33402-2, as the arc from the glabella over the skull to the inion.

The gnathion is the point on the mandibular symphysis (lower jaw) projecting furthest downwards in the median plane; it is a skeletal landmark that can be felt at the lower edge of the lower jaw. In orthodontics, the term menton is common; in the anthropometric literature, the term gnathion is generally used.

Reference in standards:
The landmark forms part of the definition of the morphological facial height, dimensions for which are stated in DIN 33402-2, as the distance between the nasion and the gnathion.

Plane of the body determined by the sagittal and transverse axes.

The inion is the process of the occipital bone projecting downwards and rearwards on the back of the head. It is a skeletal landmark. It cannot be felt sufficiently well when the occipital bone is less pronounced, as is generally the case in women and children.

Reference in standards:
The landmark forms part of the definition of the sagittal arc, dimensions for which are stated in DIN 33402-2, as the arc from the glabella over the skull.

Towards the end of the trunk (strictly speaking, towards the tail).

Towards the skull.

Away from the median sagittal plane; towards the side.

An (anthropometric) dimension is a distance measured between two landmarks describing the body type of a human being.

Towards the median sagittal plane, middle

The median sagittal plane is the plane dividing the body into two symmetrical halves.

The menton is the point on the mandibular symphysis (lower jaw) projecting furthest downwards in the median plane. It is a skeletal landmark that can be felt on the lower edge of the lower jaw. In orthodontics, the term menton is common; in the anthropometric literature, the term gnathion is generally used.

Reference in standards:
The landmark forms part of the definition of the morphological facial height, dimensions for which are stated in DIN 33402-2, as the distance between the nasion and the menton.

Referring to a point on the front of the chest at the level of the fourth rib. It is a skeletal landmark located approximately in the centre of the sternum. In children and men, the mesosternal level is generally located slightly above a line between the nipples.

Reference in standards:
The landmark forms part of the definition of the chest depth, dimensions for which are stated in DIN 33402-2, EN ISO 3411 and EN ISO 15537, as the depth of the trunk in the median plane at the mesosternal level. The landmark forms part of the definition of the chest breadth, stated only as a definition in EN ISO 7250-1 and ISO 20685, as the breadth of the trunk at the mesosternal level.

In anthropometrics, landmarks are anatomically defined points on the human body that are used to delimit a measurement path. A distinction is drawn between skeletal landmarks, which are defined with respect to bones, and landmarks that are defined by the form of outer soft tissue.

A measurement path is a distance measured between two landmarks that describe the body type of a human being.

The metacarpal landmarks are the points on the distal intermediate bones of the hand projecting furthest to the side. They are skeletal landmarks that are located at the level of the metacarpophalangeal joints. They are specifically the radial metacarpal at the level of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the index finger and the ulnar metacarpal at the level of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the little finger.

Reference in standards:
These two landmarks form part of the definition of the hand breadth at the level of the radial metacarpal and ulnar metacarpal, dimensions for which are stated in DIN 33402-2, DIN EN 547-3, DIN EN ISO 3411 and DIN EN ISO 15537, as the distance in a straight line between the radial metacarpal and the ulnar metacarpal at the level of the heads of the metacarpal bones from the index finger to the little finger.

The (arithmetic) mean is the quotient of the sum of all discrete observations and the total number of observations. It indicates the average of all discrete values of a variable.

The nasion is the central junction (sutur) of the frontal bone with the nasal bones. It is a skeletal landmark that can be detected only by touch. The nasion should not be confused with the sellion, which is a landmark describing the point of greatest indentation of the nasal root depression. The sellion is generally located several millimetres below the nasion.

Reference in standards:
The landmark forms part of the definition of the morphological facial height, dimensions for which are stated in DIN 33402-2, as the distance between the nasion and the menton.

Population or populations for which a technical design is planned or is being produced; each population contributes a defined number of randomly selected individual persons to the random sample.

The Frankfurt (or Frankfort) plane is a standard orientation of the head/skull during performance of a measurement. The tragion and the lowest point of the orbital are located in the Frankfurt plane.

The orbital is the lowest point of the orbital margin. It is a bony landmark required for standardization of the head in the Frankfurt plane.

Reference in standards:
This landmark is not used for a dimension in standards. It serves however as a reference point for the standard measurement position in the Frankfurt plane, which is stated in EN ISO 7250-1.

Percentiles (also described as quantiles) are percentage values. They break down the number of persons studied into classes by dimension, each class encompassing a certain percentage of these persons. The range between the 5th and 95th percentiles, for example, encompasses 90% of the population.

Projective dimensions describe the perpendicular projection of a path onto a defined plane; when the landmarks do not lie in the same plane, the projective dimension is less than the direct dimension.

Proportional dimensions are body dimensions that describe the relationship between two body dimensions. They are generally stated in the form of an index (e.g. leg length as a percentage of the body height).

Towards the main mass of the body; close to the body.

Towards the thumb side (towards the radius).

Axis of the body at right angles to the vertical axis, from front to back.

Plane of the body determined by the vertical and sagittal axes.

Trend observed worldwide owing to improved conditions for growth (improvements in nutrition, health, etc.), leading on the one hand to faster development among children, on the other to changes in body dimensions and proportions. Human beings are becoming taller; in particular, their legs and arms are becoming longer. The maximum attainable length dimensions are now being reached; an increase in circumferential dimensions etc. is also being observed. The trend is in principle reversible.

Trend observed worldwide owing to improved conditions for growth (improvements in nutrition, health, etc.), leading on the one hand to faster development among children, on the other to changes in body dimensions and proportions. Human beings are becoming taller; in particular, their legs and arms are becoming longer. The maximum attainable length dimensions are now being reached; an increase in circumferential dimensions etc. is also being observed. The trend is in principle reversible.

Body dimensions defined by the measurement method as being based upon or involving the location of a bony point, such as the acromion in the case of the shoulder height, or the two bony points projecting furthest outwards above the ears in the case of the head breadth.

Direct measurement on living human beings.

The anterior superior iliac spine is the lowest extremity of the iliac crest. It is a skeletal landmark that protrudes in the form of a skin elevation on the pelvis in the frontal view of very slim persons.

Reference in standards:
This landmark forms part of the definition of the iliac spine height, which is stated solely as a definition in EN ISO 7250-1 and ISO 20685, as the vertical distance from the floor to the anterior superior iliac spine.

The standard deviation is a mean incidence describing the scatter of discrete values around the mean value.

The stylions describe the two points on the wrist of the processes of the radius and the ulna furthest away from the body. The radial stylion is located on the thumb side, the ulnar stylion on the little finger side. They are skeletal landmarks that can be felt clearly as dimples on each side of the wrist joint.

Reference in standards:
The landmarks constitute a part of the definition of the hand length, dimensions for which are stated in DIN 33402-2, EN 547-3, EN ISO 3411, DIN 5566-1 and EN ISO 15537, as the distance from the tip of the middle finger to a line between the styloid processes of the wrist. They also form part of the definition of the palm length, dimensions for which are stated in DIN 33402-2, as the distance from a line between the styloid processes of the wrist to the furrow of the middle finger on the palm towards the body.

The stylions describe the two points on the wrist of the processes of the radius and the ulna furthest away from the body. The radial stylion is located on the thumb side, the ulnar stylion on the little finger side. They are skeletal landmarks that can be felt clearly as dimples on each side of the wrist joint.

Reference in standards:
The landmarks constitute a part of the definition of the hand length, dimensions for which are stated in DIN 33402-2, EN 547-3, EN ISO 3411, DIN 5566-1 and EN ISO 15537, as the distance from the tip of the middle finger to a line between the styloid processes of the wrist. They also form part of the definition of the palm length, dimensions for which are stated in DIN 33402-2, as the distance from a line between the styloid processes of the wrist to the furrow of the middle finger on the palm on the side towards the body.

Styloid processes of the wrist describe the two points of the processes of the radius and the ulna furthest away from the body on the wrist. The radial stylion is located on the thumb side, the ulnar stylion on the little finger side. They are skeletal landmarks that can be felt clearly as dimples on each side of the wrist joint.

Reference in standards:
The landmarks constitute a part of the definition of the hand length, dimensions for which are stated in DIN 33402-2, EN 547-3, EN ISO 3411, DIN 5566-1 and EN ISO 15537, as the distance from the tip of the middle finger to a line between the styloid processes of the wrist. They also form part of the definition of the palm length, dimensions for which are stated in DIN 33402-2, as the distance from a line between the styloid processes of the wrist to the furrow of the middle finger on the palm towards the body.

Towards the side of the large toe (towards the tibia).

The point of the shin located closest to the trunk on the inside of the leg. It is a skeletal landmark that can be felt, with the knee bent, at the lower edge of the knee joint crevice.

Reference in standards:
This landmark forms part of the definition of the tibial height (height of the knee joint), dimensions for which are stated in DIN 33402-2 and EN ISO 15537, as the vertical distance from the floor to the tibial landmark.

The tragion describes the point at the forward upper edge of the tragus at which the latter transitions into the ear base. It is a soft-tissue landmark at the bottom of the notch between the tragus and the helix, and is used for standardization of the head in the Frankfurt plane.

Reference in standards:
The landmark forms part of the definition of the bitragion arc, dimensions for which are stated in DIN 33402-2, as the arc from the tragion on one side, over the crown, to the tragion on the other side.

Axis of the body perpendicular to the vertical axis, from right to left

Towards the little finger (towards the ulna).

Towards the abdomen, on the abdomen side.

The vertex describes the highest point of the crown of the head in the median plane. It is a skeletal landmark.

Reference in standards:
The landmark forms part of the definition of the body height, dimensions for which are stated in DIN 33402-2, EN 547-3, EN ISO 14738, EN ISO 11064-3, DIN 5566-1, DIN 33408-1 and EN ISO 15537, as the vertical distance from the floor to the highest point of the head.

Axis of the body in the direction of the body's longitudinal axis (termed the longitudinal axis with regard to extremities)

Soft-tissue dimensions are body dimensions that do not include a bone point in the definition of the measurement method. An example is the abdominal girth.