Brachyskelia
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Brachyskelia is defined as a lower-than-normal ratio of lower limb length to height when sitting. The term was introduced by anthropologist Léonce Manouvrier, who proposed using the difference between standing and sitting height to calculate the index. This index reflects relative long-leggedness or short-leggedness and varies with age, sex, and nationality. It is used to assess other anthropological indicators and certain endocrine disorders. Standards differ by age and sex, with early ages typically showing short-leggedness.
Encyclopedia article (1928–1936)
БРАХИСКЕЛИЯ (from Greek brachys- short and skelos- leg), a lower-than-normal ratio of the length of the lower limbs to the height when sitting. Introducing this term, the anthropologist Manouvrier proposed to approximate the length of the lower limb as the standing height minus the sitting height; from this comes Manouvrier's index, or skelia index: standing height - sitting height 1/10 ----------standing height-------------100' or abbreviated I __<3i ~~sl-^' the skelia index expresses the relative long-leggedness or short-leggedness of the subject; it changes depending on age, sex, nationality, etc. Characterizing the main body proportions in sum, the skelia index has value for the assessment of other anthropological indicators, as well as in the study of certain disorders of internal secretion. To brachyskelia can be related adult men with a Manouvrier index of 75-79.9%, to subbrachyskelia 80-84.9%. For individual age, sex, and other groups, their own standards should be established; for early ages short-leggedness is typical, i.e. a small skelia index. For Russian children there are no precise standards. Manouvrier's indicators (cited after Nobekur). Age Newborn 1-3 » » 5 » » 7 » » 10 » » 12 » » 14 » » Indicator 0.50 0.58 0.64 0.75 0.80 0.85 0.88 0.90
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Cite this page
“Brachyskelia.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/brachyskelia/