Introduction: Human females and males carry almost identical genetic material, but express it is somewhat different ways. Of course the reproductive differences that define our biological roles are obvious, but survival over millennia demands that these roles be supported in subtle ways that are not always obvious. This laboratory is an investigation of some of these differences. Our goal is to establish what the body is, or is not, and then to discuss what these differences represent.

Some of these are simple distances, others involve movement. For distances, use a meter stick or tape measure, for angles of motion, use the goniometers (protractors). In a couple of cases, you may need to calculate ratios so that you are comparing proportions rather than size alone. When you finish, enter your data in the computer, then answer the questions at the end of this lab.

Measurements:
Unless directed otherwise, take all measurements in cm.

1. Gender Male 0 Female 0
2. Ht _________________
3. Wt in lbs. __________ (Just ask your subject)
Wt in Kg. __________ (divide Lbs/2.2)
4. Arm length from bony part of shoulder (pt) to tip of middle finger _____________
5. Length of forearm (elbow to tip of finger
6. Ratio of Total Arm length to Height. _________ = Arm Length (#4)/ HT (#2)
7. Shoulder width (use calipers)
8. Ratio of Shoulder width to Ht: ___________ = shoulder width/ht
9. Width at top of hips (bony ridges at “waist”) ___________
10 Ratio of hip width to ht __________________
11. Length of lower limb from “trochanter” to floor (I’ll demonstrate)
12. Sit down. Measure leg from floor to middle of knee joint (outside of knee)
13 Ratio of leg to whole limb? _______________ = leg / limb
14. Ht of umbilicus (belly button) from floor _________________
15. Ratio of umbilical ht to total ht _________________
16. Measure length of the foot (in socks is fine). ___________ (cm) Now, measure the width of the foot
Across the ball of the foot(base of toes) ______(cm)and across the width of the heel ______(cm) . Calculate ratios
of foot width to length for Ball and heel of foot. _______ (ratio @ ball); ____ Ratio @ heel. Can you tell difference
between males and females by these ratios?

Joint movements (move the “distal” (part farthest from the body) with the goniometer pivot lined up with the middle of
the joint where movement takes place. Record movement in degrees

16. Lateral movement of hand @ wrist as if you are waving “hi!” ________ deg
17. Hand movement @ wrist – flex and hyperextend ________ deg
18. Raise arm to side (palm forward) without moving collar bone. Have lab partner place hand on collar bone and
tell subject to stop the instant the bone moves. ________ deg
Now compare this to the same arm movement when the collarbone is allowed to move ________ deg
19. Repeat #18 but have subject move in parasagittal plane ________ deg (shoulder fixed)
________ deg (shoulder mobile)
20. Leg movement @ hip. Raise leg to side (you may have to subtract the starting angle from the finishing angle to get
this one ________ deg (do NOT point toes; keep foot pointing forward as if you were still standing on it)
21. Move leg forward while measuring angle changes. You will need to have a partner hold your hip. The moment the
hip starts to move, stop measuring! ________ deg Now repeat, but let the hips “tilt” ________ deg.
What part of the body is actually responsible for allowing your leg to move upward? ______________________

Observations:
Who is generically larger? Males _____ Females _____
Who is generically hairier? Males _____ Females _____
Who sweats the most? Males _____ Females _____
Who generically has the higher fat %? Males _____ Females _____

Stand in the Standard Anatomical Position. Measure the angle made between the shaft of the arm, and the forearm
(at the elbow). Who has the more acute Angle (you will have to ask a number of your classmates before answering this one!)
Males _____ Females _____

Measure the angle between thigh bone and the shin bone. Who has the more acute angle?
Males _____ Females _____
Have your subject sit on the table top. Pull knees to chest and have them hang the chin over the knees. Who is best at this?
Males _____ Females _____

Finally – be prepared to answer a question or two about the data you have gathered.
Consider the following questions:
A. Which of observations or measurements did you expect to be different that turned out to be the same?
B. Of the differences that showed up, would they have any consequences in everyday life?
C. Would any of these differences have physical or medical consequences?