Human Anatomy, Part 1 - K. A. Dubenko, A. K. Kolomiysev, Yu. B. Chaykovsky 2002

General Part
General information on the structure of the human body
Constitutional body types of humans

Constitutional types (from Lat. constitutio - Structure) are groups of people who share a complex of more or less similar hereditary and acquired traits that determine the Specific features of the Organism's vital activity and reactivity. In anatomy, according to morphofunctional characteristics (by M. V. Chernorutsky), the following constitutional body types are distinguished in humans (Fig. 15).

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Fig. 15. Constitutional human body types:

1 - asthenic type; 2 - normosthenic type; 3 - hypersthenic type

Asthenic type - characterized by tall stature, a long chest with an acute subcostal angle, a long neck, narrow shoulders, long limbs, pale Skin, and poorly developed subcutaneous tissue. The Heart is small in size, the Lungs are elongated, the intestines are short, Blood pressure is reduced, and dissimilation processes predominate.

Normosthenic type - characterized by a relatively proportional, harmonious body structure with well-developed skeletal and muscular systems. It is believed that the normosthenic type occupies an intermediate position between the asthenic and hypersthenic types (according to V. M. Shevkunenko and O. M. Heselevych, 1926).

Hypersthenic type - characterized by average or below-average height, a massive body, excessive fat deposits, relatively short limbs, a broad chest, a short neck, a large abdomen, a relatively large heart, and a predisposition to elevated blood pressure.

According to V. M. Shevkunenko and O. M. Heselevych (1926), human constitutional body types are divided into three main forms:

- dolichomorphic type (from Greek dolichos - long) - characterized by tall stature, a long neck, a narrow chest, a relatively short trunk, and long lower limbs (asthenic);

- brachymorphic type (from Greek brachys - short) - characterized by average or short stature, a short and thick neck, a broad chest with a large epigastric angle, a relatively long trunk, and short lower limbs (hypersthenic);

- mesomorphic type (from Greek mesos - middle) - an intermediate type close to the normal Human Body Structure (normosthenic).