What is an Anthropometer?

September 17, 2021 Julieth Quiceno

An anthropometer is an instrument that as its name indicates ("anthropos" suffix from the Greek and indicates "relative to human body", and "meter" that means "measure") is used to measure widths and lengths of bones of human body depending of its range. These can be specific for large and small bones and be included in an anthropometric kit, also it can be found as a collection of rods that can be configured for different measurements.

Anthropometer vs. Anthropometry Kit

Anthropometry Kits

Cescorf Anthropometry Kit

Includes:

Large bone anthropometer (60cm)-- for chest depth, shoulder width
Small bone anthropometer (18cm) -- for elbow, ankle, knee
Flexible segmometer (3m) -- forearm, arm length, thighs
Lufkin W606PM anthropometric tape measure (2m) -- wrist, waist
Portable stadiometer (3m) -- height
Transport bag.

Realmet Anthropometry Kit

Includes:

Large bone anthropometer (60cm)-- for chest depth, shoulder width
Small bone anthropometer (14.5cm) -- for elbow, ankle, knee
Flexible segmometer (3m) -- forearm, arm length, thighs
Realmet anthropometric tape measure (2m) -- wrist, waist
Dermographic pencil.
Aluminum transport case.

Anthropometer

Harpenden Anthropometer

Set of rods to assemble with straight and recurved branches, a spare counter and beam extensions for the measuring of heights of up to two meters.
Anthropometric tool used to measure standing height, sitting height and arm length.
Range of 50 mm to 570 mm.
Constructed of light alloy anodized.
Sliding member operates via miniature ball-bearing rollers.
Carrying case.

GPM Anthropometer

Consists of four interconnecting metal tubes, with millimeter intervals. With the four sections connected, the measuring range is from 0 to 2100 mm.
It can also be used as a sliding beam caliper with a measuring range of 0 to 950 mm.
Including a canvas carrying bag, recurved metal branches, a baseplate, and an auricular height needle.

Cescorf Anthropometer

Equipment composed of an anodized aluminum pedestal; five aluminum tubes with magnet-attachable metric scales; two technyl nylon blocks (one fixed and one sliding) on the aluminum segments; two stainless steel tips that are attached to technyl nylon blocks.
It allows two types of mounting: with the pedestal or with the segment with the fixed technyl nylon block. Both allow the use of 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 mm segments.
Gross weight: 1900g.
*This product has been discontinued by the manufacturer and is no longer available.

Anthropometric Equipment as we mentioned, an anthropometer can refer to a collection of rods to configured for different body measurements, or it can refer to specific body measurement instruments, such as these:

Large bone Anthropometer
Small bone anthropometer
Segmometer

Other instruments that are also used for body measurement and included in anthropometry kits are anthropometric tape measures and stadiometers (height meters).