Changes in the head growth - one of the parameters of the morphological status in the study of Riga schoolboys from 2005-2007

Head size is one of the parameters of a human's morphological status. Growth and development of the head differs from the growth of the body. It can be explained by the fact that the growth of the head is closely connected to the development of the brain. The researchers have the aim to investigate the anthropometrical measurements in boys at the age of 7 to 18 years and to compare them with the literature data. Anthropometrical measurements acquired in the study within 20052007 of the Riga secondary school, primary school and pre-school children were used for the basis of this research. The anthropometrical data of 1,359 boys, aged 7-18 years, were analyzed. The boys had been divided into twelve age groups, The analysis included the following anthropometrical parameters: head perimeter, the biggest head length and width, the biggest face width, length of mandible, morphological face length and the head index. Analyzing the acquired data on the anthropometrical parameters of the head in boys at the age of 7 to 18 years, we can conclude that:1) the studied head parameters in boys grow till 18 years, but the biggest mean value growth is observed at the age of 14-15 years;2) if by the head index variations, the boys are seen to have from hyperdolichocephalic up to brachiocephalic heads, then according to the head index parameter, they on average fit into the group of mesocephalic head forms, the fact which is observed in all age groups of boys, as well as in girls (Dulevska, 2002);3) boys of all age groups fit into the group range of peoples of Northern Europe.