The study of external forms and proportions of the body are engaged in the science of human morphology and plastic anatomy. Some basic information of plastic anatomy and morphology, knowledge of which is necessary for the technologist and designer of clothes below.

The external shape of the body 

On the front of thetorso are distinguishable thoracic and abdominal region, the boundary of which is the lower edge of the ribs. Upper thoracic region is called the shoulder. The shoulders usually have a slight slope (tilt) from the neck. There are shoulders with a pronounced slope or on the contrary, are located closer to the horizontal. The slope of the shoulders is divided into high, normal and low. From the shoulders depends on the value of the bevel of the shoulder sections of the back and shelves.
The shape of the breast, as already noted, depends on the shape of the thorax and the degree of development of the chest muscles, especially pectoralis major muscle, and women, in addition, the presence of developed Breasts. The size and shape of the breast are very diverse and depend on the individual characteristics, age, completeness, and other factors.
Part of the body located between the thorax and the pelvis, is called the belly. The shape of the abdomen is very diverse. It depends on the gender, age, size of irouleguy and the ratio of dimensions of thorax and pelvis. So, with a broad chest and narrow pelvis the abdomen has the shape of a truncated cone, facing a large base up, and with a narrow thorax and a wide pelvis, on the contrary, the cone facing the base down. The shape of the abdomen varies depending on the position of the body.While standing, inhale and also when bending the trunk forward when the internal abdominal organs fall down, the abdominal wall comes forward. When lying down, exhaling and lifting the hands up is the indentation (flattening) of the anterior abdominal wall.
The shape of the abdomen in General, obesity is more rounded; the abdomen increases in all directions, especially anteriorly (protrusion of the stomach forward).
The shape of the body from the rear, the back depends to some extent on the degree of muscle development. People with highly developed muscles, the curvature of the back is usually smoother. A hunched back is often the result of weak muscle development. The profile of the back figure of the person can be inclined (stooping), normal or straight (pereghibati).
The boundary of the trunk and neck in the back is a section at the level of the 7th cervical vertebra and the front of the clavicle (women in connection with well-developed subcutaneous fat layer, the contours of the clavicles may be completely smooth). Neck shape is very diverse: children and women with well-developed subcutaneous fat neck has a more rounded shape, and men, due to the greater development of the sternoclavicular-peripapillary and trapezius muscles, konfigurirovanii it increases. The length of the neck depends on the tilt of the shoulders: when low-lying shoulders neck is longer and the high is shorter.
Anthropologist Professor V. V. Bunak, depending on the shape of the individual parts of the body identifies seven types of body weights, considering three of them major: thoracic, muscular and abdominal (Fig. 1-6).
 Breast-type (Fig. 1-b, a) is a flat chest, weak fat deposition and weak muscles, sunken belly and a hunched back.
 Muscular type (Fig. 1-b, b) is a cylindrical chest, moderate fat deposition, average or strong muscles, straight or somewhat rounded back.
 Abdominal type (Fig. 1-6,) is characterized by a conical shape of the thorax and greater fat deposition, especially in the abdominal area. Extra body types are characterized by mixed features of main types.
Together with differences in the form of a separate body areas, there are significant differences in the body size. The increase in normal people ranges from: men - 140 - 190 cm, women - 130 - 180 cm For all mankind average height of a man is considered to be 165 cm (in the USSR - 167 cm). The average height of women 154 cm (in the USSR - 156 cm).
Growth in humans varies with age. This change occurs unevenly across years. In the first years of life of the people is growing very rapidly, then the growth slows down and ceases in women 18 to 20 years; men - 20 - 25 years. In old age growth usually decreases (due to spine curvature and flattening of the cartilage between the vertebrae) 5 - 7 cm and more. The growth of a person may change throughout the day. In the morning, after a rest, he usually 0.5 - 1.0 cm more than in the evening.

The proportions of the body 

There are differences in ratios (proportions) of individual parts of the human body.
In anthropology, has taken the following main types of body proportions: dolichomorphic, and brachymorphic, mesomorphic (Fig. 1-7).
 Dolichomorphic type (Fig. 1-7, a) is characterized by relatively long limbs and short torso.
 Brachymorphic type (Fig. 1-7, in) are characterized by relatively short limbs and a long torso.
 Mesomorphic type (Fig. 1-7, b) intermediate, middle type between dolichomorphic and brachymorphic.
P. N. Bashkirov results the average body size for men of specified types (table. 1-1).
The difference in growth between people depends mainly on the length of the lower limbs. So dolichomorphic type more typical of people of high growth, and brachymorphic for people of low growth.
Also very significant differences in the body proportions of people of different gender. For women compared to men is typical of the wider hips. In men, the shoulders are usually considerably wider than the hips. Women's shoulders are generally wider hips too, but less than men.
Very large differences in the proportions of the body in people of all ages. For example, the height of the head of the newborn is approximately equal to 1/4 the length of the whole body, and the circumference of my head equals the circumference of chest; in adults, the height of the head is 1/7, 1/8 growth, and the circumference of your head is almost two times less than the bust. Changes with age are, on the one hand, to increase the size of the body and all its parts, and on the other hand - a sharp change in the relations between different parts.The height of the head is more adult than a newborn baby twice while the length of the body is increased three times; hands - four feet - almost five, and neck - seven times. The circumference of your head when it increases by just half, and bust - three times. Growth and change in the proportions of individual body parts of children is uneven over the years. Therefore, clothing for kids in size can be no smaller replica of adult clothing, nor be the same in terms of proportions for children of different ages.
 

The manifestation of asymmetry in the human body 

Human figure divided by a sagittal plane into two symmetrical halves, right and left. Therefore, the construction drawings of clothing items is usually carried out only for one half of the body.
However, even well-built people can detect a difference in the structure of the left and right sides of the body. This phenomenon is called the asymmetry.
According plastic anatomy and anthropology at 70% of the right half of the chest on the perimeter by 0.5 - 2.0 cm longer than the left, the right hand 75% of people have long left, her girth is also more in connection with predominant development of the muscles of the right hand. When measuring be sure to take into account the asymmetry of the human body, so the side of the measuring body is usually produced by the most advanced, right side of the figure.