| Revision as of 09:17, 3 June 2007 edit58.68.87.3 (talk) →Muscles← Previous edit | Revision as of 03:29, 4 June 2007 edit undo202.41.72.100 (talk)No edit summaryNext edit → | ||
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| == Skeletal structure == | == Skeletal structure == | ||
| Skeletal structure defines overall shape of body. This remains almost the same in an adult human, and does not alter much during lifetime. | Skeletal structure defines overall shape of body. This remains almost the same in an adult human, and does not alter much during lifetime. | ||
| * Males have '''broad shoulders'''<ref> Secondary sexual characteristics occur as part of the pubertal process. </ref> and '''bigger chest''' <ref> testosterone causes expansion of rib cage during puberty as one of ]. </ref>. Widening of shoulders and expansion of ] occur as part of male pubertal process. | * Males have '''broad shoulders'''<ref> Secondary sexual characteristics occur as part of the pubertal process. </ref> and '''bigger chest''' <ref> testosterone causes expansion of rib cage during puberty as one of ]. </ref>. Widening of shoulders and expansion of ] occur as part of male pubertal process. This is to allow for more room to inhale more air to deliver higher levels of energy. | ||
| * Females have '''wide hips'''<ref> Secondary sexual characteristics occur as part of the pubertal process. </ref>. ] ] during puberty as one of ]. This affects their ]. | * Females have '''wide hips'''<ref> Secondary sexual characteristics occur as part of the pubertal process. </ref>. ] ] during puberty as one of ]. This is to allow for childbirth. This affects their ]. | ||
| * Males are taller<ref> Males are ] </ref>. | * Males are taller<ref> Males are ] </ref>. | ||
| * On average, males have larger hands and feet than females<ref> larger hands and feet than women - ] </ref>. | * On average, males have larger hands and feet than females<ref> larger hands and feet than women - ] </ref>. | ||
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| == Fat distribution == | == Fat distribution == | ||
| Estrogens increases fat storage in the body<ref> estrogen women have activates fat storing enzymes and causes them to multiply </ref>, which results] stored in body of females. This serves as energy reserve for ] and ]. | Estrogens increases fat storage in the body<ref> estrogen women have activates fat storing enzymes and causes them to multiply </ref>, which results ] stored in body of females. This serves as energy reserve for ] and ]. | ||
| Estrogen stores fat in the buttocks, thighs, and hips in women<ref> | Estrogen stores fat in the buttocks, thighs, and hips in women<ref> | ||
| estrogen causes fat to be stored around the pelvic region, hips, butt and thighs | estrogen causes fat to be stored around the pelvic region, hips, butt and thighs | ||
| </ref>. This along with wide hips make for their lower ]. When women reach menopause and the estrogen produced by our ovaries gradually reduces, fat migrates from their hips and thighs to their waists<ref> Researchers think that the lack of estrogen at menopause play a role in driving our fat northward </ref>, later fat is stored in ] <ref> Abdominal fat and what to do about it </ref> | </ref>. This along with wide hips make for their bigger bottom in turn lower ]. Big bottom implies more stamina to have sex. When women reach menopause and the estrogen produced by our ovaries gradually reduces, fat migrates from their hips and thighs to their waists<ref> Researchers think that the lack of estrogen at menopause play a role in driving our fat northward </ref>, later fat is stored in ] <ref> Abdominal fat and what to do about it </ref> | ||
| Males have less subcutaneous fat in face due to effect of testosterone<ref> "Subcutaneous fat in face decreases" - ] </ref>. | Males have less subcutaneous fat in face due to effect of testosterone<ref> "Subcutaneous fat in face decreases" - ] </ref>. | ||
Revision as of 03:29, 4 June 2007
Human body shape has sophisticated details and purposes. During puberty differentiation of male and female body occurs for the purpose of reproduction. Body shape is generally analysed after normalising with respect to height. Human figure is defined mainly by skeletal structure, muscles and fat. Skeletal structure changes only up to when a human grows adult and remains same for rest of lifetime. Muscle mass may change due to exercises and fat distribution may change due to hormone fluctuations.
Body shape plays major role in physical attraction between opposite sexes. This is because shape implies individual's hormone levels during his puberty which implies fertility. Shape also says about current levels of sex hormones.
Skeletal structure
Skeletal structure defines overall shape of body. This remains almost the same in an adult human, and does not alter much during lifetime.
- Males have broad shoulders and bigger chest . Widening of shoulders and expansion of ribcage occur as part of male pubertal process. This is to allow for more room to inhale more air to deliver higher levels of energy.
- Females have wide hips. Hips widen during puberty as one of secondary sex characteristics. This is to allow for childbirth. This affects their walking style.
- Males are taller.
- On average, males have larger hands and feet than females.
Facial Features
Due to the action of testosterone, males develop these facial-bones features during puberty:
- A more prominent brow bone.
- A squarer jaw.
- Larger ears and nose .
Because females have around 20 times less testosterone, these features do not develop to the same extent, and smaller nose makes for fuller upper lip unlike males. Hence female faces are generally more similar to that of a pre-pubertal child.
Muscles
Testosterone helps build and maintain muscles through weight exercise. Males have around 20 times more testosterone. Hence male body shape is cut and defined by muscles. It is difficult for females to develop muscles by exercises due to lack of adequate testosterone.
Fat distribution
Estrogens increases fat storage in the body, which results more fat stored in body of females. This serves as energy reserve for pregnancy and lactation.
Estrogen stores fat in the buttocks, thighs, and hips in women. This along with wide hips make for their bigger bottom in turn lower waist-hip ratio. Big bottom implies more stamina to have sex. When women reach menopause and the estrogen produced by our ovaries gradually reduces, fat migrates from their hips and thighs to their waists, later fat is stored in abdomen
Males have less subcutaneous fat in face due to effect of testosterone.
Exceptions
Not everyone follows this stereotypical pattern. There are women who store fat in the waist and abdomen and some males have heavier lower bodies. But again hormones seem to the cause. There is evidence that women who store fat like a man have more androgens (male sex hormones) than the average woman. Women who have much smaller waists compared to their hips have higher levels of estrogen. Hence an individual human can develop features of both male and female or lack the both to some extent.
Notes
- body shape is determined by the nature of body fat distribution
- Growing is usually completed between ages 13 and 18, at which time the epiphyseal plates of long bones close allowing no further growth Human skeleton
- body shape and movement is important in physical attraction
- Secondary sexual characteristics occur as part of the pubertal process.
- testosterone causes expansion of rib cage during puberty as one of secondary sex characteristics.
- Secondary sexual characteristics occur as part of the pubertal process.
- Males are taller
- larger hands and feet than women - Secondary sex characteristics
- bone across the centre of the forehead from around the middle of eyebrow across to the middle of the other
- testosterone thickens the brow and "upper bridge of the nose"
- Females have fuller lips.
- Maintaining sufficient levels of the hormone testosterone can "build muscle and decrease body fat"
- On average, overall men have about "20 times more testosterone than women"
- estrogen women have activates fat storing enzymes and causes them to multiply
- estrogen causes fat to be stored around the pelvic region, hips, butt and thighs
- Researchers think that the lack of estrogen at menopause play a role in driving our fat northward
- Abdominal fat and what to do about it
- "Subcutaneous fat in face decreases" - Advanced postnatal effects
- women who store fat like a man have more male sex hormones than the average woman
- Physical attraction
- Secondary sex characteristics
- Puberty
- Sexual dimorphism in hips
- Gender differences of skeleton
- Advanced postnatal effects of Testosterone
- Sexual dimorphism
- Human physical appearance
- Human figure