Dynamics of anthropometric indicators in girls within the pubertal period of ontogenesis

Abstract

The harmony of the organism development in different periods of ontogenesis, and especially puberty, determines the future fate of women in both medical and social aspects. The aim of the research was to study the total and partial body sizes in girls of pubertal period of ontogenesis. We surveyed 128 schoolgirls of 5-8 grades. We evaluated the stages of development of secondary sexual characteristics by hair growth in the axilla and pubis, the development of the mammary glands and age of onset of the first menstruation. According to G.G. Avtandilov’s classification, all girls were divided into three groups – prepubertal (preceding the appearance of pubic hair), pubertal (puberty before menarche) and postpubertal period (fixed and completed pubertal maturation). The group of pubertal girls consisted of 106 schoolgirls, who were divided into groups according to calendar age: 13-year-old (n=29), 12-year-old (n=30), 11-year-old (n=24) and 10-year-old (n=23). Anthropometric survey was conducted according to the scheme of V.V. Bunak and contained the definition of total (length and body weight) and partial (longitudinal, transverse and anterior-posterior) dimensions. The analysis of the obtained results was performed in the license package Statistica 5.5 using non-parametric methods of evaluation of indicators. In our study, it was found that anthropometric indicators characterize the physical development, the level of its harmony and morphofunctional maturity of girls within the pubertal period of ontogenesis. We found a progressive age dynamics of total and partial body size in girls of this age period. The periods of the most intensive growth within the pubertal period of ontogenesis of total and partial sizes of a body are established. At the end of puberty there is the most intense age increase in body length: a rapid increase in body weight begins at the age of 12, the most intense processes of longitudinal growth of the torso and lower extremities in girls are observed from 11 years. Most of the transverse dimensions within the pubertal period of ontogenesis have a pronounced progressive age dynamic. Lower thoracic size, interspinous distance, and external conjugate did not differ statistically significantly between girls of different ages during puberty.