Age dynamics of sexual dimorphism of anthropometric dimensions through the ascending period of ontogenesis from 1 month to 17 years (based on Moscow data)
The “model” sample is based on the data of Moscow preschool and school children aged 1-17 years, examined by the authors in 2005-06. The data on infants aged 1-12 months is collected on base of the archives of Moscow maternity hospitals and children’s hospitals in 2007-08. The quantitative estimation of the value of sexual dimorphism is based on Kullback divergence, the analogue of Makhalanobis distance. Results. For the total body dimensions (height, weight, chest girth) the pattern of dynamics of SD is similar. Through the first half of the infancy SD reaches 0.6-0.8 standard deviations. Further on SD decreases till minimal values of about 0.1-0.2 standard deviations at the age of 10-12 years. Up to 17 years, when boys experience yet active growth processes and outstrip the total body dimensions of girls, SD values increase. The values of biacromial diameter are slightly higher in boys as compared to girls through 1-13 years interval, further on SD increases to 2.3 standard deviations at 17 years of age. SD of biiliac diameter changes in a narrow corridor from -0.05 standard deviations at 11-15 years of age to 0.25 standard deviations at 6 and 17 years. The specificity of age dynamics of SD of subscapular skinfold is small negative values through the 1-12 years interval; after 12 years sexual differences increase significantly due to intensive accumulation of fat tissue in girls and reach -0.8 standard deviation up to 17 years of age. Conclusion. Age variability is the important factor of the dynamics of SD of somatic traits through the whole ontogenesis and reflects sex differences in the ratio of morphofunctional differentiation during ascending ontogenesis section. Final peculiarities of SD are formed mainly in the adolescent period of ontogenesis. Dynamics of SD has differences for total body dimensions, indices of transversal skeletal development and indices of adiposity, having different adaptive sense.