Schell L M, Johnston F E, Smith D R, Paolone A M
Am J Phys Anthropol. 1985 Aug;67(4):317-22. doi: 10.1002/ajpa.1330670404.
Asymmetry of paired dimensions has been recognized as a methodological problem in anthropometry and more recently as an indicator of environmental stress. This study seeks to determine the extent of directional asymmetry for some of the measurements commonly made in anthropometry. Upper arm circumference, biepicondylar breadth, triceps and subscapular skinfolds, bicondylar breadth of the femur, and calf circumference were measured on right and left sides among 135 white adolescents from suburban Philadelphia. Handedness (right or nonright) was subject-assessed. Body composition was estimated through underwater weighing. Asymmetry was evaluated using a paired t test. Arm measurements are significantly asymmetric in favor of the right side; subscapular skinfolds and leg measurements are not significantly asymmetric. Among the sample of right-handed subjects (n = 116), upper arm circumference and biepicondylar breadth were significantly larger on the right side, and, among the males of this subsample, triceps was as well. The nonright-handed subjects (n = 19) did not show statistically significant asymmetry. Asymmetry was negatively but weakly related to body composition. These results are consistent with an explanation in terms of preferred use of one side of the body and consequent muscle hypertrophy, but an adequate test of this explanation requires hypothesis testing in larger samples of nonright-handed subjects.
成对维度的不对称已被公认为人体测量学中的一个方法学问题，最近又被视为环境压力的一个指标。本研究旨在确定人体测量学中一些常见测量指标的方向性不对称程度。对来自费城郊区的135名白人青少年的左右两侧测量了上臂围、双髁间宽度、肱三头肌和肩胛下皮褶厚度、股骨双髁间宽度以及小腿围。用主观评估法确定利手（右利手或非右利手）。通过水下称重法估算身体成分。使用配对t检验评估不对称性。手臂测量结果显示出明显的不对称，右侧更占优势；肩胛下皮褶厚度和腿部测量结果则没有明显的不对称。在右利手受试者样本（n = 116）中，右侧的上臂围和双髁间宽度明显更大，在该子样本的男性中，肱三头肌也是如此。非右利手受试者（n = 19）未表现出统计学上显著的不对称。不对称与身体成分呈负相关，但相关性较弱。这些结果与用身体一侧的优先使用及随之而来的肌肉肥大来解释是一致的，但要充分验证这一解释需要在更大的非右利手受试者样本中进行假设检验。
