Human Anatomy (with Fundamentals of Dynamic and Sports Morphology) - Ivanitsky, M. F. 2008

Age Morphology
Preliminary Remarks

Age Morphology studies the changes in body Structure related to age, as well as the functional conditioning of body structure at various stages of individual development (ontogeny). It is closely linked with age physiology, which examines the age-related restructuring of the Functions of Organs and systems, along with the mechanisms of physiological processes. Age morphology provides essential scientific data for pedagogy, the theory and methodology of physical education, medicine—specifically pediatrics, which focuses on preserving children's health—and geriatrics, which deals with the elderly and senile population. Age morphology subjects the human phenotype to morphological research, reflecting the Specific features of hereditary information, or the genotype. Therefore, age morphology is closely related to Human Genetics (anthropogenetics) and, in particular, to one of its branches—human developmental genetics. Since age morphology investigates phenomena associated with the shaping influence of not only heredity but also the external environment (ecological factors), it works in close conjunction with human ecology, specifically human developmental ecology.

Age morphology is frequently included as part of auxology, the comprehensive science of human GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.

Objectives of age morphology. Age morphology addresses the following primary objectives:

1) elucidating the general patterns and specific manifestations of the Organism's growth and development processes in relation to the influences of heredity and the environment;

2) establishing optimal periods that are critical for targeted pedagogical interventions and the effective formation of various properties and qualities of the organism;

3) identifying the most informative indicators of human biological age among morphological traits;

4) dividing the course of an organism's individual development into a series of periods based on THE PRINCIPLE OF intra-group homogeneity of biological age indicators and the distinctions between one period and another—known as age periodicization;

5) studying the trends of growth and development characteristic of a specific historical era (by comparing biological age indicators across comparable groups of people representing different generations).

Developing normative values for body dimensions to assess human physical development constitutes a general task of age and Constitutional Morphology (see p. 446).

Age morphology devotes considerable attention to developmental acceleration, which is explained by the high informativeness of the Morphological Characteristics of this process, primarily body dimensions. Another pressing task of age morphology is elucidating the differences in growth and development among children of various somatotypes (constitutional types). Age morphology utilizes these data—especially the results of long-term (so-called longitudinal) observations of children's growth and development, as well as comparisons between the body dimensions of children and their parents—to forecast the timing of Puberty, the potential for longitudinal body growth, and The Development of motor qualities, which is of paramount importance in youth sports.

Methods of age morphology. The methods of age morphology encompass the entire arsenal of morphological methods, among which the following are most commonly used.

1. Anthropometric methods—measuring the dimensions of the body and its parts (longitudinal, transverse, girth, skinfold thickness, weight), assessing body proportions and body mass composition (see p. 600).

Conducting anthropometric studies involves two approaches to subject Selection. In so-called generalizing (cross-sectional) studies, a group of people of various ages is measured simultaneously. Subsequently, during the mathematical Processing of the measurement results, the subjects are divided into age groups, and statistical indicators (arithmetic mean, standard deviation, etc.—see p. 612) are calculated for each group.

Individualizing (longitudinal) studies have a different character. During these studies, the same individuals are measured at specific time intervals, and the obtained data are compared against one another. Longitudinal studies, which establish the dynamics of growth and development within a single generation, provide a more objective assessment of age-related changes and in this respect possess significant advantages over cross-sectional studies. However, they are extended over time, and some participants drop out due to changes of residence, illness, etc. In such cases, it is recommended to Supplement the group with new subjects of the same age. This study variant is termed a longitudinal-cross-sectional or mixed study.

2. Anthroposcopic methods, used in relation to so-called descriptive traits, which are evaluated in conventional units—scores—using specially developed assessment scales. In age morphology, this method is widespread for evaluating signs of puberty and other indicators of human biological age (see p. 426).

3. Histological and histochemical Research Methods followed by The Study of microstructures using light or Electron Cell/15.html">Microscopy.

4. Methods for measuring joint mobility (goniometry) and Muscle group strength (dynamometry) using polygoniometry and polydynamometry methods, respectively.

Classification of age morphology. Addressing issues of both theoretical and applied significance, age morphology is divided into general and particular sections.

General age morphology elucidates the patterns of organism growth and development, as well as The Role of hereditary and environmental factors in driving these processes. It studies the most integrated criteria of biological age—anthropometric, skeletal, dental, and pubertal traits. Based on these criteria, age periodicization schemes are formulated (see p. 363).

Particular age morphology investigates the patterns of age-related changes in individual organs and systems of the organism; it determines the most informative biological age indicators at the systemic, organ, tissue, and cellular levels, utilizing them to refine age periodicization.