INDEX: Body Type and Shape Determination

INDEX:
Body Type and Shape Determination

Color-Coded Body Guide By Gender - Body Type and Shape Determination

Body Type and Shape Determination – Color-Coded Body Guide By Gender

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This Body Type and Shape Determination index page aggregates links
to all post and photos of retail merchandising, display, and outfitting
as well as deep Background courtesy of Wikipedia.

BACKSTORY: Human body shape is a complex phenomenon with sophisticated detail and function. The general shape or figure of a person is defined mainly by the molding of skeletal structures, as well as the distribution of muscles and fat.^[1] Skeletal structure grows and changes only up to the point at which a human reaches adulthood and remains essentially the same for the rest of his or her life. Growth is usually completed between the ages of 13 and 18, at which time the epiphyseal plates of long bones close, allowing no further growth (see Human skeleton).

Many aspects of body shape vary with gender and the female body shape especially has a complicated cultural history. The science of measuring and assessing body shape is called anthropometry.

During puberty, differentiation of the male and female body occurs for the purpose of reproduction. In adult humans, muscle mass may change due to exercise, and fat distribution may change due to hormone fluctuations. Inherited genes play a large part in the development of body shape.

Skeletal structure frames the overall shape of the body and does not alter much after maturity. Males are, on average, taller, but body shape may be analyzed after normalizing with respect to height. The length of each bone is constant, but the joint angle will change as the bone moves.^[7]

Female traits: Widening of the hip bones occurs as part of the female pubertal process,^[8] and estrogens (the predominant sex hormones in females) cause a widening of the pelvis as a part of sexual differentiation. Hence females generally have wider hips, permitting childbirth. Because the female pelvis is flatter, more rounded and proportionally larger, the head of the fetus may pass during childbirth.^[9] The sacrum in females is shorter and wider, and also directed more toward the rear (see image).^[10] This sometimes affects their walking style, resulting in hip sway.^[11] The upper limb in females have an outward angulation (carrying angle) at elbow level to accommodate the wider pelvis. After puberty, hips are generally wider than shoulders. However, not all females adhere to this stereotypical pattern of secondary sex characteristics.^[12] Males and females generally have the same hormones, but blood concentrations and site sensitivity differs between males and females. Males produce primarily testosterone with small amounts of estrogen and progesterone, while women produce primarily estrogen and progesterone and small amounts of testosterone.^[13]

Male traits: Widening of the shoulders occurs as part of the male pubertal process.^[8] Expansion of the ribcage is caused by the effects of testosterone during puberty.^{[citation needed]}

Body shape has effects on body posture^[29] and gait, and has a major role in physical attraction. This is because a body’s shape implies an individual’s hormone levels during puberty, which implies fertility, and it also indicates current levels of sex hormones.^[1] A pleasing shape also implies good health and fitness of the body. Posture also affects body shape as different postures significantly alter body measurements, which thus can alter a body’s shape.^[29]^[30] (SOURCE: Wikipedia)