ANNALS OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, 1995, VOL. 22, NO.

5, 4 4 3 - 4 5 8

Correlations among height, leg length and arm span in growing Korean
children

D.-J. YUNt, D.-K. YUN#, Y.-Y. CHANGt, S.-W. LIMt, M . - K . LEES, and S.-Y. KIM§
CYonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
SWonjoo University College of Medicine, Wonjoo-City, Kangwon-Do, Korea
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§Sowha Children's Hospital, Seoul, Korea

Received 1 September 1994; revised 25 May 1995

Summary. A cross-sectional study was performed to find out if any specific correlations
exist among height, leg length and arm span in growing Korean children. Height, leg length
and arm span were measured in 10,322 healthy children (4740 males and 5582 females).
Computed ratios of leg length to height, leg length to arm span and arm span to height for
the 3rd, 25th, 50th, 75th and 97th percentiles were made. It was found that the ratios of leg
length to height, leg length to arm span, and arm span to height were bigger in taller
children in the same age group than the shorter ones in both sexes. All the ratios were bigger
in older children in the same percentile than the younger ones in both sexes, showing that
For personal use only.

the growth rates of leg length and arm span were bigger than that of height in general.
However, growth of leg length is faster in shorter children than in taller children until the
onset of puberty, after which growth of leg length in taller children is faster than in shorter
children. The first and most rapid growth of leg length is seen from birth to 2 years, the
second growth spurt is seen during the pubertal period. An exceptional increment in leg
length between ages from 10 to 15 is also noted in taller children. After puberty, arm span
grows faster than height until 17 years of age in the tallest male child, and taller children
have longer arm span than height, while arm span in the shortest children never exceeds
height.

1. Introduction
It has long been recommended that height, weight, head and chest circumferences
are some of the measurements used to evaluate the growth of children (Behrman,
Kliegman, Nelson and Vaughan 1992). However, measurements of leg length and arm
span were rarely done unless for a special purpose or study (Robbins, Brody and
Hogan 1928, Hamill, Johnston and Lemeshow 1973, Malina, Hamill and Lemeshow
1974, Kautz and Harrison 1981, Zavaleta and Malina 1982, Boldsen 1984, Malina,
Brown and Zavaleta 1987, Feldesman, Kleckner and Lundy 1990, McHenry 1991,
Feldesman 1992, Formicola 1993). Arm length was frequently measured for clinical
purposes (Stahl and Karpman 1986, Pritchett 1988, Bortel and Pritchett 1993).
Sitting height of Negroids is shorter than those of Caucasoids, but Negroids' leg
length is longer than those of Caucasoids by comparison (Verghese, Scott, Teixeira
and Ferguson 1969, Hamill et al. 1973, Malina et al. 1974). Japanese children have
shorter stature with comparatively shorter legs and longer sitting height (Ministry of
Education, Japan 1985, Behrman et al. 1992).
Recently, lower leg length, total leg length and height were measured by
knemometry to evaluate the results of treatment in diseases causing short stature
(Ikeda, Higurashi, Hirayama, Ishikawa and Hoshina 1977, Valk, Langhout Chabloz
and Van Gilst 1983, Steendijk and Herweijer 1984, Martiner, Preece and Grant 1984,
Hermanussen, Sippel and Valk 1985, Wit, Teunissen, Waelkens and Gerver 1987,
Ross, Cassorla, Carpenter, Long, Reyster, Loriaux and Cutler 1988, Wales and

0301-4460/95 $10'00 © 1995 Taylor & Francis Ltd.

 444 D.-J. Yun et al.

Milner 1989, Schentag, Dean and Winter 1989, Seidel, Schaefer, Walther and Scharer
1991).
Koreans are known to be genetically smaller in size compared to Caucasoids and
Negroids (Hamil et al. 1973, Korean Pediatric Association 1985, Behrman et al. 1992).
However, during the past two decades the height of Korean children has increased as
their nutritional and environmental status improved (Korean Pediatric Association
1967, 1985). Since taller people also have longer leg length, we describe a study to find
out if correlations were present among linear growth of the body, i.e., height, leg
length and arm span.
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2. Materials and methods

Measurements included height, leg length and arm span of 4740 Korean males and
5582 Korean females from May 1986 to December 1987. They were all healthy and
came from economically middle-class families. In selecting newborn subjects for
measurement, we excluded babies with birth weights less than 2-5 kg and gestational
age less than 38 weeks.

2.1. Height
Supine body length was used from birth to 3 years of age. The child lay on a firm
table which had a measuring stick 125 cm long inserted along one edge. The soles of
the feet were held firmly against a fixed upright placed at the zero mark. A moveable
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upright crossed the table above the head at right angles to the measuring stick, and
was brought firmly against the vertex. Standing height was measured after 3 years of
age. The child stood erect against a firm upright containing a 2-m measuring device. A
wooden headpiece at right angles to the metre stick was placed firmly on the head
against the measuring scale.

2.2. Leg length

This dimension is the distance from the plantar surface of feet to the superior
external border of the greater trochanter. In every case the measurement was made at
the left trochanter. Leg length measured in a supine position was used from birth to 3
years by using lying length meter, in the same manner as for supine body length. The
soles of the feet were held firmly against an upright placed at the zero mark and the
knees were pushed down so that the legs took a straight position, particularly in young
infants. In this position the leg length was read by putting the stick on the superior
external border of the left greater trochanter of the subject at 90 degrees to the vertical
axis. For those older than 3 years of age the leg length was measured by using a
standing height meter in the same manner as measuring height. With this position the
leg length was read by placing the stick on the superior external border of the greater
trochanter of the subject in a plane parallel with the floor (Hrdlicka 1920).

2.3. A r m span
Arm span is the longest distance from the tip of the third digit of the left hand to
the tip of the third digit of the right hand. It includes the width of the shoulders and
the length of both arms and hands. From birth to 3 years arm span was measured in
the prone position by using a measuring tape attached to the floor at 90 degrees to the
vertical axis at the child's shoulder level. For those older than 3 years of age the child
stood erect facing the wall, to which the tape ruler was attached in a plane parallel
with the floor at the child's shoulder level. The child's arms and hands were stretched
 Height, leg length and arm span in Korean children 445

out straight at 90 degrees to the vertical axis. At this point the left middle fingertip
should be on the zero mark and the arm span was read at the point of the right middle
finger tip (Robbins et al. 1928).
Measurements of body length, height, leg length and arm span and pretest
measurements were done on 100 subjects including 10 newborns at different ages. The
confidence intervals were within 95%. Linear growth was measured in centimetres,
and ratios were calculated down to three decimal places.
Measurements are presented by sex and age at 6-month intervals from birth to 2
years, and at 1-year intervals thereafter. The measurements of height, leg length, and
arm span are shown by sex and by the 3rd, 25th, 50th, 75th and 97th percentile in each
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age group.
Correlations of coefficients (leg length to height ratio, leg length to arm span ratio
and arm span to height ratio) for every respective percentile in each age group were
computed, and the differences of the ratios in each group and mutual relations of each
percentile channel were analysed.

3. Results
Tables 1, 2 and 3 show measurements of height, leg length and arm span of Korean
children in each percentile by age and sex. Table 4 shows leg length to height ratio,
table 5 shows leg length to arm span ratio and table 6 shows arm span to height ratio
of Korean children by age and sex in each respective percentile. Figures 1 and 2 show
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leg length to height ratio for males and females from table 4, figures 3 and 4 show leg
length to arm span ratio, and figures 5 and 6 arm span to height ratio respectively for
Korean males and females for the 3rd, 50th and 97th percentiles. Tables 7 and 8 show
5-year increments in height and leg length for Korean children, and this is shown
graphically in figures 7 and 8.

Table 1. Percentiles for height of Korean males and females--birth to 19 years (cm).

Percentiles (male) Percentiles (female)

Number Age Number
studied 3 25 50 75 97 (years) studied 3 25 50 75 97
232 47.2 48.7 51 "3 53-0 55"0 Birth 214 46-5 48-5 51.8 52.4 54.0
133 56"9 58"5 63.1 66-0 71.0 ½ 116 57"0 60-0 63.0 65.0 69"0
129 65.0 67.0 70.8 74.2 78.5 1 123 67.1 68"6 71.4 73.5 76.0
136 70.0 73-0 77.0 81.0 84.9 1½ 106 72.6 75.0 78.0 80"5 83"0
118 73.9 77.5 82.1 86.0 90.2 2 106 76.5 79-4 82.5 85-0 87"8
140 80.2 85"1 90"5 94"1 98"2 3 132 83.0 86.0 89.8 93"0 97"1
113 87.9 92"9 97.8 102"0 105.9 4 117 89.0 93.0 97.2 101.0 106-0
201 94"8 100.2 104.9 108.7 113.5 5 220 95"8 100-0 105.0 108.5 113.0
282 102.0 106.5 111.3 114.9 119.5 6 242 101.6 106"0 110"7 115.0 119.4
221 108.7 113.5 117.9 121.5 126.6 7 236 106.9 111.0 116.6 121.0 126.2
144 114.3 119-9 124.4 128.0 132.6 8 129 113.0 117.5 122.4 127.0 133.4
204 119"8 125.0 130.2 134.0 139.2 9 175 119.0 124.0 129.2 134-0 139.5
226 124.7 129.0 134.9 140.0 147.0 10 197 124.8 130.0 135"3 140"1 146.0
234 128.2 134-0 139.6 145.5 153.8 11 243 128.7 135.0 141.2 146.5 153.5
283 132.3 138.0 144.0 151.5 161.1 12 266 133-8 140.0 146.0 152.0 159.0
339 136.7 143"0 148.5 156.5 166"5 13 435 138-2 144.0 150.5 156-0 162"0
323 141.3 148-0 154.8 161"5 170"5 14 514 142.8 148.0 154-1 158.5 164"0
355 148"1 153.6 160.3 166-6 174.5 15 485 146.0 151.0 156.0 160.0 165.0
298 155"8 159.5 165.5 170-6 177-0 16 503 148.0 152.5 156.8 160.5 166.4
266 158.7 164.0 168.5 173.5 178.5 17 524 148.3 153.0 157.4 161.5 166.5
286 161.2 165.6 169-5 174.5 179.5 18 432 148.4 153"0 157"9 161.5 166-8
77 161.7 167.0 170.1 175-0 180.0 19 65 148.4 153.0 157.9 161.5 166-8
 446 D.-J. Yun et al.

Table 2. Percentiles for leg length of Korean males and females--birth to 19 years (cm).

Percentiles (male) Percentiles (female)

Number Age Number
studied 3 25 50 75 97 (years) studied 3 25 50 75 97
232 17"0 18"8 20"5 22"1 24"0 Birth 214 17.0 18.8 20-2 21"6 23"5
133 21-0 23.4 26.0 28"2 32.0 ½ 116 21.0 23.0 25.1 28.0 31.0
129 24.5 27.3 30-5 33.0 36.1 1 123 25"4 27.0 29.5 32.5 35.3
136 27.7 31.3 34.4 37.5 40.8 1½ 106 28.0 30.5 33"0 36.1 39.0
118 31.5 34.0 37.0 40.9 44.0 2 106 31 "0 33.0 36"0 39.0 42.0
140 36.0 38.9 42.0 45.5 48.5 3 132 35"5 38.0 40.7 43.5 46.5
113 39.5 43"0 46"0 49"0 52-3 4 117 40.0 42.8 45.2 48"0 50.5
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201 43"0 46.5 50"0 52.5 55"9 5 220 44.5 47.0 50.2 52.0 55.3
282 46.5 49.9 53.0 56.0 59.0 6 242 48.0 50.5 53.0 55"8 58.9
221 50.1 53.2 56.1 58.9 62.5 7 238 51 "3 54.0 56.7 59.0 62.2
144 54.0 56.4 59.4 62.0 65.1 8 129 54.8 57.5 60.0 62.5 65.8
204 57.5 60"5 63.7 66"1 68"0 9 175 58.0 60"8 63"6 65.8 68.8
226 60-2 62.8 65"8 68.1 71.9 10 197 60"6 63"5 66.4 69.0 72.0
234 62-0 64.0 68"0 70.3 74-9 11 243 62.5 66.0 69.3 72.0 76.4
283 64.0 67-5 71.4 75.0 79.6 12 266 65"0 69"0 72"8 76.0 79.9
339 67.8 71"8 74"6 78.1 83.4 13 435 68"0 72.5 76.1 79.5 83.8
323 70.8 75.0 79.4 83.0 88"7 14 514 70.5 75.0 78.6 82.0 86.5
355 75.0 80"0 84.9 88.4 92.4 15 485 72"5 76.9 80.6 84.0 88.3
298 79.1 83"5 87.5 90.4 94.2 16 503 73.3 77.4 81.7 85.0 88"8
266 80.2 85.0 88"5 92"0 95.2 17 524 73.8 77.9 81.8 85'5 89.1
286 81.5 85.5 89-0 92-0 96.0 18 432 74.0 78.1 81.9 85.9 89.4
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77 81.6 85.9 89.3 92.0 96"0 19 65 74-0 78.1 81.9 85.9 89.4

Table 3. Percentiles for arm span of Korean males and females--birth to 19 years (cm).

Percentiles (male) Percentiles (female)

Number Age Number
studied 3 25 50 75 97 (years) studied 3 25 50 75 97
232 44"4 47" 1 49"2 52-0 54"2 Birth 214 43"9 46"4 49"9 51 '5 54"0
133 53"5 57"0 60"7 65-0 70"0 ½ 116 53"3 55"4 60"3 63'8 70"0
129 62"0 66"0 70"0 75"0 78"8 1 123 62"8 64"0 68"5 72-8 76"3
136 67"5 72"0 75"0 81"0 85"3 1½ 106 67"8 71 "0 76"0 80"0 83"3
118 72"0 76"0 80"7 85"1 90"5 2 106 72"0 75"5 80"0 84"5 88"2
140 78"8 83"0 88"4 92"3 98"3 3 132 78"9 82"5 87"0 91 "4 97"5
113 86"5 90"5 95"5 99.7 105.4 4 117 84"5 89"0 93"9 98"2 105"5
201 92"6 97"0 102"8 106"5 113"9 5 220 91"0 96'0 101'4 105"0 111"6
282 100.4 104-0 109"0 113"1 119"4 6 242 97"4 102"5 107"0 112"0 118"9
221 105"2 110"0 115"6 120"0 126"5 7 238 104"0 109"5 114"4 118"8 125"6
144 111"5 116"0 122"0 126"4 132"5 8 129 110-1 116"0 121"1 125'9 132"8
204 117"0 122"2 128"9 133"5 141"1 9 175 116"0 122"5 127"5 132"5 138"9
226 122"6 128"0 134'6 140"5 148"3 10 197 121-5 128"0 134"0 139-5 145"4
234 126-4 133"9 140"1 146"0 156"1 11 243 125"4 134"0 139"8 146"2 154'3
283 131"5 139"0 145"9 152"8 163"5 12 266 130"3 139"0 146"9 153"0 161"4
339 135"0 144"0 150"7 158"4 169"0 13 435 134.6 143"0 151"0 157"0 164"6
323 140"5 149"0 157"0 165"0 174"5 14 514 139"0 147-0 153"6 159'3 166"5
355 148"0 154"0 162"5 170"0 178'9 15 485 143"8 150"0 156"3 161"0 167"5
298 156"5 161"0 169"5 175"1 181"9 16 503 145'3 152"0 157"4 162"0 168"9
266 159"0 165"5 171"9 178"9 184"8 17 524 146"9 152"5 158"0 163"0 169"7
286 161"6 167"0 173"2 179"1 186"0 18 432 147"4 153"0 158"3 163"1 170"2
77 161-8 167"5 173"8 179"1 186"4 19 65 147"4 153"0 158"3 163"1 170"2
 Height, leg length and arm span in Korean children 447

Table 4. Leg length to height ratio in each percentile by age, in Korean males and f e m a l e s - - b i r t h to
19 years.

Percentiles (male) Percentiles (female)

Number Age Number
studied 3 25 50 75 97 (years) studied 3 25 50 75 97
232 0"360 0"386 0.400 0.417 0.436 Birth 214 0.366 0.382 0.390 0.412 0-435
133 0.369 0.400 0.412 0.427 0.451 ½ 116 0"368 0-383 0"398 0.431 0.449
129 0.377 0.407 0.431 0.448 0.460 1 123 0.379 0.394 0.413 0.442 0.464
136 0.396 0.429 0-440 0-463 0.481 1½ 106 0.386 0.407 0.423 0"448 0.470
118 0.426 0.439 0.451 0.476 0.488 2 106 0.405 0.416 0.436 0"459 0.478
140 0.449 0.457 0.464 0.480 0.490 3 132 0.428 0"442 0"453 0.468 0.479
113 0.449 0"463 0.470 0.480 0.490 4 117 0.449 0-460 0"465 0.475 0.479
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201 0.454 0.464 0-477 0.483 0.491 5 220 0.465 0.470 0"478 0.479 0-489
282 0-456 0.469 0.476 0.487 0.490 6 242 0.472 0.476 0.479 0.485 0.491
221 0.461 0.469 0.476 0.485 0-491 7 238 0.480 0.486 0.486 0.488 0.492
144 0.472 0.470 0.477 0.484 0.491 8 129 0.485 0.489 0.490 0"490 0"493
204 0.480 0"484 0.489 0.489 0.491 9 175 0"487 0-490 0.491 0"491 0.493
226 0.483 0-487 0.488 0.489 0.492 10 197 0.487 0.488 0.491 0"493 0.494
234 0-484 0.486 0.490 0.490 0.494 11 243 0.488 0.489 0-492 0.494 0.498
283 0"484 0.489 0.496 0.495 0-496 12 266 0"489 0.493 0.499 0"500 0"503
339 0.496 0"502 0"502 0.499 0.501 13 435 0.492 0.503 0.506 0-510 0"517
323 0.501 0.507 0.513 0.514 0"520 14 514 0"494 0.507 0.510 0.517 0-527
355 0.506 0.521 0-525 0.528 0.530 15 485 0.497 0.509 0-517 0.525 0"534
298 0.508 0.521 0.525 0.530 0.532 16 503 0"495 0.508 0.521 0"530 0"534
266 0"505 0.518 0.525 0.530 0.533 17 524 0"498 0.509 0.520 0.529 0.535
286 0"506 0.516 0.525 0"530 0"535 18 432 0.499 0.510 0.519 0.532 0-536
For personal use only.

77 0.505 0.516 0-525 0"530 0"535 19 65 0.499 0"510 0-519 0.532 0"536

Table 5. Leg length to arm span ratio in each percentile by age, in Korean males and females--birth
to 19 years.

Percentiles (male) Percentiles (female)

Number Age Number
studied 3 25 50 75 97 (years) studied 3 25 50 75 97
232 0"383 0"399 0"417 0"425 0"443 Birth 214 0"387 0"405 0"405 0"419 0"435
133 0"393 0"411 0"428 0'434 0"453 ½ 116 0'394 0"415 0"416 0"439 0"443
129 0"395 0"414 0"436 0"440 0"458 i 123 0'404 0"422 0'431 0"446 0"463
136 0"410 0-435 0"459 0"463 0"478 1½ 106 0"413 0"430 0"434 0"451 0"468
118 0"438 0.447 0"458 0"481 0"486 2 106 0-431 0"437 0"450 0.462 0"476
140 0"457 0"469 0"475 0"492 0"492 3 132 0"450 0"461 0"468 0"476 0"477
113 0"458 0"475 0"482 0.491 0"493 4 117 0"473 0"481 0"481 0"489 0"489
201 0"464 0"479 0"486 0"492 0"493 5 220 0"489 0"489 0"493 0"494 0"496
282 0"463 0"480 0"486 0"493 0"494 6 242 0"493 0"493 0"495 0-496 0"496
221 0"476 0.484 0"485 0"492 0"494 7 238 0"493 0-493 0"496 0"497 0"497
144 0"484 0"486 0"487 0"493 0"494 8 129 0"494 0"495 0"495 0"496 0"497
204 0"491 0"492 0"494 0"494 0"495 9 175 0"495 0"496 0"496 0"497 0"499
226 0"491 0"492 0"494 0"494 0"495 10 197 0"499 0-496 0"496 0"496 0"499
234 0"491 0"492 0"494 0"494 0"495 11 243 0"498 0"496 0"496 0"496 0-499
283 0"492 0"492 0"494 0"494 0"496 12 266 0"499 0"496 0"496 0"497 0"499
339 0"495 0"495 0"495 0"495 0"496 13 435 0-504 0"504 0"504 0"506 0"509
323 0"503 0"503 0"506 0'506 0"508 14 514 0"504 0"510 0"512 0"515 0"520
355 0"504 0"514 0"514 0"520 0"516 15 485 0"504 0"513 0"516 0"522 0"527
298 0"504 0"514 0"516 0"516 0"518 16 503 0"504 0"509 0"519 0"525 0"526
266 0"504 0"514 0"515 0"515 0"515 17 524 0"502 0"511 0"518 0"525 0"525
286 0"504 0"512 0"515 0"515 0-516 18 432 0"502 0"510 0"517 0"527 0.525
77 0"504 0"513 0-515 0"515 0"515 19 65 0"502 0'510 0"517 0"527 0"525
 448 D.-J. Yun et al.

Table 6. Arm span to height ratio in each percentile by age, in Korean males and females--birth to
19 years.

Percentiles (male) Percentiles (female)

Number Age Number
studied 3 25 50 75 97 (years) studied 3 25 50 75 97
232 0 - 9 4 1 0"964 0"959 0-981 0"985 Birth 214 0.941 0.947 0.963 0-983 1.000
133 0.944 0-964 0.962 0-984 0"986 ½ 116 0-942 0"943 0-957 0"982 1.004
129 0.954 0.974 0-980 1.001 1-004 1 123 0.943 0-943 0.959 0.990 1.004
136 0.964 0.981 0-981 1.000 1-004 1½ 106 0.942 0.946 0.968 0-991 1.004
118 0.974 0.981 0-982 0.984 1-003 2 106 0.943 0.951 0.970 0.990 1.005
140 0.975 0.982 0.983 0.984 1-004 3 132 0.951 0.957 0.972 0.991 1.004
113 0.976 0.983 0.984 0.985 0.995 4 117 0.949 0.957 0.974 0.992 0.995
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201 0-977 0.982 0.984 0.985 1.001 5 220 0.951 0.960 0-976 0-992 0.995
282 0-978 0.983 0.984 0.986 1.002 6 242 0.959 0"967 0"980 0"993 0.996
221 0 - 9 7 8 0.983 0.985 0.988 1.003 7 236 0.973 0.984 0.981 0.993 0.995
144 0.979 0.984 0.985 0.988 1.004 8 129 0.974 0"987 0"989 0.994 0.996
204 0.979 0.984 0"990 0-996 1"008 9 175 0"975 0.986 0"987 0"994 0.996
226 0 - 9 8 3 0-992 0"998 1.004 1-009 10 197 0.976 0.985 0.990 0.996 0.996
234 0"986 0.999 1.004 1.003 1-012 11 243 0.977 0-991 0.990 0-998 1.005
283 0.994 1.007 1.013 1.009 1.014 12 266 0"977 0.991 1.006 1.007 1.015
339 0.988 1.008 1.015 1.015 1"015 13 435 0.978 0.992 1"006 1.006 1.016
323 0.994 1.009 1.015 1"022 1.023 14 514 0"980 0"993 1"005 1.005 1.015
355 0.999 1.003 1.015 1"020 1"025 15 485 0"985 0"994 1.005 1.006 1.015
298 1.004 1.009 1.024 1"026 1.028 16 503 0"985 0.997 1.005 1.009 1.015
266 1 - 0 0 2 1.009 1"020 1"031 1.035 17 524 0.991 0.997 1"005 1"009 1"019
286 1 - 0 0 2 1.008 1.022 1.026 1.036 18 432 0.993 1.000 1.005 1.010 1.020
For personal use only.

77 1 - 0 0 2 1,008 1.022 1.026 1.036 19 65 0.993 1.000 1.005 1.010 1.020

I n table 4 a n d figure 1 the ratio o f leg length to height for males at birth for
children in the 3rd percentile channel is 0.360, 0.386 in the 25th, 0.400 in the 50th,
0.417 in the 75th a n d 0.436 for children in the 97th percentile. We can also see the ratio
for 19-year-olds in the 3rd percentile is 0.505, 0.516, in the 25th, 0.525 in the 50th,
0-530 in the 75th a n d 0.535 in the 97th percentile. The ratio for females at birth (table
4, figure 2) in the 3rd percentile is 0.366, 0.382 in the 25th a n d 0"390 in the 50th, 0.412
in the 75th a n d 0.435 in the 97th percentile. The ratio for 19-year-olds in the 3rd
percentile is 0.499, 0.510 in the 25th, 0.519 in the 50th, 0.532 in the 75th a n d 0.536 in
the 97th percentile.
Table 5 a n d figure 3 show leg length to a r m span ratio, a n d the ratio for males at
birth in the 3rd percentile is 0-383, 0.399 in the 25th percentile, 0.417 in the 50th
percentile, 0-425 in the 75th a n d 0.443 in the 97th percentile. The ratio for 19-year-olds
in the 3rd percentile is 0.504, 0.513 in the 25th, 0.515 in the 50th, 75th a n d 97th
percentile. The ratio of leg length to a r m s p a n for females at birth (table 5, figure 4) in
the 3rd percentile is 0.387, 0.405 in the 25th a n d 50th percentiles, 0.419 in the 75th
percentile a n d 0-435 in the 97th percentile, a n d the ratio for 19-year-olds in the 3rd
percentile is 0.502, 0.510 in the 25th percentile, 0.517 in the 50th percentile, 0.527 in
the 75th a n d 0.525 in the 97th percentile.
I n table 6 a n d figure 5 the a r m span to height ratio for males at birth in the 3rd
percentile is 0-941, 0.964 in the 25th, 0-959 in the 50th, 0.981 in the 75th a n d 0.985 in
the 97th percentile. The ratio for 19-year-old males in the 3rd percentile is 1.002, 1.008
in the 25th, 1.022 in the 50th, 1.026 in the 75th a n d 1-036 in the 97th percentile. Table
6 a n d figure 6 show that the ratio of a r m s p a n to height for females at birth in the 3rd
 Height, leg length and arm span in Korean children 449

Ratio
0550-

0.500
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0.450
3rd
---4r--- percentile
50th percentile
----=~---97th percentile
For personal use only.

o.35o~ I ~ + 4
0(Birth) 5 10 15 20 Age

Figure 1. Changes of leg length to height ratio in the 3rd, 50th and 97th percentiles by age in males.

Ratio

I .......
o~oo.t ./.~~~..~_ .......

0"450//~~--Strip . . . . . ti,e

I /! - . so,,o ..... ,i,e

0.400_~
~ - - , , 97thp . . . . . lile_

0(Birth) 5 10 15 20 Age

Figure 2. Changes of leg length to height ratio in the 3rd, 50th and 97th percentiles by age in females.
 450 D.-J. Yun et al.

Ratio
0.55o-

0.500-
Ann Hum Biol Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Chulalongkorn University on 12/30/14

0.450
--*-- 3rd percentile 1
--e~--- 50th percentile

0.400 / - - 97th percentile

For personal use only.

0.350 _ F ~ ~. . . . . . q
(Bi~h) 5 t0 15 20Age

Figure 3. Changes of leg length to arm span ratio in the 3rd, 50th and 97th percentiles by age in males.

Ratio
0550

0.450- / / ~ J,

/
OAO0 /

o.aso i ........... I ~ t E
0 (Birth) 5 10 15 20Ag e

Figure 4. Changes of leg length to arm span ratio in the 3rd, 50th and 97th percentiles by age in females.
 Height, leg length and arm span in Korean children 451

Ratio
1.o50

1.0{X)

/
Ann Hum Biol Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Chulalongkorn University on 12/30/14

0.950

---~--- 3rd percentile

. - - - - e - - - 50th percentle
--- u-- 97|h percentile
0.900.
For personal use only.

0850

0 (BiJth) 5 10 15 20Age

Figure 5. Changes of arm span to height ratio in the 3rd, 50th and 97th percentiles by age in males.

Ratio
1.050

um~--! - m -u--n j~um --urn- •

/

1 .(300
. . . . . . . . . . .

0.950

~,---- 3rrt pe~cel~tiie

---o--- 50th percentle

--=-~ 97th percentile
0.900

osso ............... ~ ................ F. . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . I

0 (Birth) 5 10 15 20 Age

Figure 6. Changes of arm span to height ratio in the 3rd, 50th and 97th percentiles by age in females.
 452 D.-J. Yun et al.

(cm)

60

Height J¢---3
50 --~---- 50
-- e--g 7
Leg length 3
..... • 50

........ l
Ann Hum Biol Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Chulalongkorn University on 12/30/14
For personal use only.

o-~ t ............... I Age

0-5 5-1o 1g-is ls-2g

Figure 7. Comparison of 5-year increments of height and leg length in males.

(c,n)

60

50
Height "3

• 50

m.-. 97

Leg length - ,,X- 3

40
--o 50

--e-- 97

30

20

10

o-t ................. ~. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ ................. LAg~

0 -5 5 -10 10 -15 15 -20

Figure 8. Comparison of 5-year increments of height and leg length in females.

 Height, leg length and arm span in Korean children 453

Table 7. Five-year increments in height of Korean males and females by age, for the 3rd, 50th and 97th
percentiles (cm).

Percentiles (male) Age interval Percentiles (female)

3 50 97 3 50 97
47"6 53"6 58"5 0- 5 49"3 53"2 59"0
29"9 30"0 33"5 5-10 29"0 30-3 33"0
23 "4 25 "4 27"5 10-15 21 "2 20-7 19'0
13"6 9-8 5-5 15-19 2"4 1-9 1-8
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Table 8. Five-year increments in leg length o f Korean males a n d females by age, for the 3rd, 50th
and 97th percentiles (cm).

Percentiles (male) Age interval Percentiles (female)

3 50 97 3 50 97
26'0 29"5 31"9 0- 5 27"5 30"0 31"8
17"2 15"8 16"0 5-10 16"1 16"2 16'7
14' 8 19" 1 20" 5 10-15 11' 9 14" 2 15" 9
6"6 4"4 3"6 15-19 1"5 1"3 1"1
For personal use only.

percentile is 0.941, 0.947 in the 25th, 0.963 in the 50th, 0.983 in the 75th and 1.000 in
the 97th percentile. The ratio for 19-year-old females in the 3rd percentile is 0.993,
1.000 in the 25th, 1.005 in the 50th, 1.010 in the 75th and 1-020 in the 97th percentile.
Tables 7 and 8, and figures 7 and 8 show 5-year increments of height and leg length
of Korean children. Increments of height in the 3rd, 50th and 97th percentile
decreased as the age increased in each percentile. Five-year increments in height were
similar for both males and females until the age of 10. However, between the ages of
10 and 15, height increment was greater by 2.2 cm for males than for females in the 3rd
percentile. There were 4.7 cm and 8.5 cm differences between males and females for
the 50th and 97th percentile respectively for the same age group. Males grew l l - 2 c m
more than females between the ages of 15 and 19, while males in the 50th and 97th
percentiles grew 7.9cm and 2-7 cm more than their female counterparts for the same
age group. Height increment in females were similar for all percentiles. Males in the
3rd percentile caught up in height with the taller ones in later pubescence. The same
can be said for 5-year increments in leg length (table 8).

4. Discussion
It is usual to measure height, weight, chest and head circumference to evaluate
growth in children, and sometimes pelvic width and sitting height are measured for
special purposes (Behrman et al. 1992). However, leg length and arm span have rarely
been used for evaluation of growth in children.
The three largest racial groups in the world are Caucasoids, Negroids and
Mongoloids. They are easily differentiated not only by colour of skin but also by body
size and shape. Judging by body appearance the Caucasoids and Negroids are taller in
stature, with longer legs, and Orientals are shorter, with shorter legs.
Changes in body proportion from infancy to adulthood were first described by
Robbins et al. (1928), who reported that arm span exceeds standing height at 10 years
of age in males and at 14 years of age in females. Normally, sitting height represents
about 70°7o of length in the newborn infant, 57°7o at 3 years of age and about 52% at
 454 D.-J. Yun et al.

the time of menarche (SMR [Tanner stage] 3) in girls and about SMR 4 in boys. This is
mainly due to the fact that the growing rate of leg length is greater than that of the
trunk. The authors measured leg length using the method by Hrdlicka (1920) and
Olson (1949) because it measures actual leg length.
The height of Korean children has increased 8 cm at 13 years and 3 cm at 18 years
of age in the past 20 years (Korean Pediatric Association, 1967, 1985). This is due to
nutritional improvement based on economic development. The Japanese have
experienced this phenomenon in the past 45 years (Ministry of Education, Japan
1985). Considering that the heights of Korean children in 1985 were similar to those of
Japanese children in 1964, Korean children are about 20 years behind Japanese
Ann Hum Biol Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Chulalongkorn University on 12/30/14

children in terms of height. Both Koreans and Japanese have very similar body sizes
and shapes anthropologically. The Koreans are catching up in stature, and it is
difficult to predict when they will attain maximum stature while living standards
continue to improve in the future. The height of Korean children in 1985 were similar
to those of Chinese children from birth to 6 years of age during the same period
(Zhang and Huang 1988).
Heights of Caucasoids and Negroids are similar (Hamill et al. 1973). Japanese
children are 1.2cm shorter at 12 years of age and about 5.3 cm shorter at adulthood
than Caucasoids and Negroids (Hamill et al. 1973, Ministry of Education, Japan
1985), but there was practically no difference in sitting heights. Therefore, height
increments between 1957 and 1977 were mainly due to increase in leg length rather
For personal use only.

than in sitting height. The ratio of sitting height to height in Japanese is greater than
that of Caucasoids and Negroids, which indicates that the Japanese have the shortest
legs among Caucasoids, Negroids and Mongoloids (Tanner, Hayashi, Preece and
Cameron 1982).
The growth pattern of leg length is explained by reviewing the leg length to height
ratio (table 4, figures 1 and 2), leg length to arm span ratio (table 5, figures 3 and 4)
and 5-year increments of height and leg length (tables 7 and 8, figures 7 and 8). In
figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 in this study the shortest children had the shortest leg length at
birth, and the difference between the ratio of the shortest children and the tallest
children is greatest at birth: 7.6% difference in males and 6-9% difference in females in
leg length to height ratio, and 6% difference in males and 4.8% difference in females
in leg length to arm span ratio. This is due to the fact that arm span is shorter than
height in the tallest children at birth.
In tables 4, 5, and 6 it can be seen that the ratios increase as the ages increase in
each percentile channel, and the ratios are greater in taller children than in shorter
children for the same age groups. Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 show the ratios of leg length to
height and arm span, and the ratio of leg length to arm span is greater than that of leg
length to height in general. This indicates that growth in leg length is greater than that
of trunk after birth. Shorter children have a faster growth rate of leg length and arm
span when compared with taller children from birth to 2 years. This growth spurt
continues until the age of 9 in females and 13 in males. Taller children have greater
increments in leg length when compared to shorter children from ages 13 to 15, while
shorter children tend to grow more between the ages of 15 and 19 (table 7). The
growing rate of leg length in the shortest children increases to reach the same ratio as
the tallest children at the age of 13 in males and 9-12 years of age in females, after
which the second growth spurt of leg length is noted until the age of 15 in both males
and females. The same ratio difference is then maintained until full maturity is
 Height, leg length and arm span in Korean children 455

attained. The growth rate of leg length is faster than that of height from birth to 2
years of age.
Since Robbins et al. (1928) measured arm span and reported the relationship
between arm span and height, literature on arm span measurement has been scarce.
As shown in table 6 and figures 5 and 6, arm span to height ratio is almost equal to, or
is greater than, 1.00 at 12months, meaning that arm span is equal to height during
infancy. This means that the tallest children have longer arms and legs since birth, so
that height and leg length are almost equal at birth. Arm span exceeds height at age 9,
increases faster from puberty and exceeds height by 6.3 cm at age 17 in the tallest
children, while the shortest children have the shortest arm span with the smallest ratio
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of arm span to height, 0.941, and their arm span never exceeds height until maturity.
In this study the ratios of leg length to height, leg length to arm span, and arm span
to height were greater in taller children in the same age group than in shorter ones for
both sexes, and all the ratios were greater in older children for the same percentiles
than in younger ones for both sexes. This indicates that the growing rates of leg length
and arm span were faster than the growing rate of height in general.
Estimated leg length was calculated by subtracting stem length from height by
Stolz and Stolz (1951). Subischial length has been measured by Malina et al. (1974,
1987), but this was also the estimated leg length. With this method, sitting height is
3-5 cm greater than the length from the crown to the superior external border of the
greater trochanter. Mean stature, sitting height and estimated leg (subischial) length of
For personal use only.

Mexican, Caucasoid and Negroid children were measured, and the statures of
Caucasoids and Negroids were found to be similar, while Mexicans were shorter by
about 7 cm. The tallest sitting height was seen in Caucasoids and the shortest sitting
height was noted in Mexicans. The longest leg length was seen in Negroids and the
shortest in Mexicans.
We made our study based on the belief that any given physical measurement
usually follows a constant percentile channel in the course of healthy growth
(Meredith 1941). According to figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 there is a period showing the same
ratios in three percentile channels, or almost the same ratios between the 50th, 75th
and 97th percentile channels. Exceptional increments of leg length in the 50th and 97th
percentile children raise the possibility that some children belonging to the 50th and
75th percentile channels before age 13 might have grown to be included in the 97th
percentile after age 13, and some belonging to the 97th percentile before the age of 13
might have grown less, to be included in the 75th or 50th percentile after the age of 13.
A longitudinal study would have been beneficial in recognizing children with a sudden
growth spurt or those with slow growth after the age of 13.
Dean, Schentag and Winter (1990) have studied the predictive value of short-term
growth using knemometry in a large proportion of healthy children, and found that
the 6-month interval was the one with the highest predictive value for annual lower leg
growth and annual height growth. Leg length, sitting height and standing height were
also measured, to evaluate the effect of treatment with various drugs in the diseases
with short stature using knemometry (Valk et al. 1983, Steendijk and Herweijer 1984,
Martiner et al. 1984, Hermanussen et al. 1985, Seidel et al. 1991, Wit et al. 1987, Ross
et al. 1988, Wales and Milner 1989, Schentag et al. 1989). However, growth of different
parts of the skeleton and variable interval growth rates limit the ability of knemometry
to predict long-term growth.
 456 D.-J. Yun et al.

Acknowledgements
I thank Dr Paul A. Harper, Emeritus, and Dr Rowland V. Rider, the former
Professor of Statistics, Department of Maternal and Child Health and Department of
Population Dynamics School of Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins
University, for their kind revision and advice in writing this paper.

References
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14th edn (Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Company).
BOLDSEN, J., 1984, A statistical evaluation of the basis for predicting stature from length of long bones in
European populations. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 65, 305-311.
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extremities. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American), 75, 885-892.
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knemometry in a large population of healthy children. Acta Paediatrica Scandinavica, 79, 57-63.
FELDESMAN, M.R., KLECKNER, J.G., and LUNDY, J.K., 1990, Femur/stature ratio and estimates of
stature in Mid- and Late-Pleistocene fossil hominids. American Journal of Physical
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FELDESMAN, M.R., 1992, Femur/stature ratio and estimates of stature in children. American Journal of
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HAMILL, P. V. V., JOHNSTON, F.E., and LEMESHOW,S., 1973, Body weight, stature and sitting height:
White and Negro Youth, 12-17 years, United States, National Center for Health Statistics. DHEN
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Korean Pediatric Association, 10, Supplement 4.
KOREAN PEDIATRIC ASSOCIATION, 1985, Norm of growth of Korean children in 1985. Journal of the
Korean Pediatric Association, 28, Supplement 10.
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lower leg growth in children treated with growth promoting substances. Acta Paediatrica
Scandinavica, Supplement, 337, 40-43.
ZAVALETA,A.N., and MAL1NA, R.M., 1982, Growth and body composition of Mexican American boys,
9 through 14 years of age. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 57, 261-271.
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For personal use only.

Address for correspondence: Dr Duk-Jin Yun, 429-25 Hapjung-Dong, Mapo-Ku, Seoul, South
Korea, 121-220.

Zusammenfassung. Es wurde eine Querschnittuntersuchung durchgefi~hrt, um zu tiberpr~fen, ob ir-

gendwelche spezifische Korrelationen zwischen der K6rperhOhe, der Beinl~inge und der Spannweite bei
wachsenden koreanischen Kindern bestehen. An 10322 gesunden Kindern (4740 Jungen und 5582
M~dchen) wurden die K6rperhOhe, die Beinl~inge und die Spannweite der Arme gemessen. Daraus
wurden das 3., 25., 50., 75. und 97. Perzentil des Verh~iltnisses der Beinl~nge zur KOrperhOhe, der
Beinl~mge zur Spannweite und der Spannweite zur KOrperhOhe berechnet. Es zeigte sich, dal3 das
Verh~iltnis der Beinl~nge zur KOrperhOhe, der Beinlange zur Spannweite und der Spannweite zur
KOrperhOhe in beiden Geschlechtern bei grOl3eren Kindern grOf~er war als bei kleineren Kindern derselben
Altersklasse. In beiden Geschlechtern waren die Perzentilwerte bei ~tlteren Kindern gr6Ber als bei
jtingeren, was belegt, dab die Wachstumsrate der Beinl~inge und der Spannweite grOBer ist als die der
KOrperh6he allgemein. Bis zum Beginn der Pubert~tt ist das Wachstum der Beinl~nge bei kleineren
Kindern jedoch grOl3er als bei langeren, danach ist das Wachstum der Beinl~.nge bei l~ngeren Kindern
grOl3er als bei kleinen. Das erste und schnellste Wachstum der Beinl~nge l~il3t sich jedoch im Alter von 0
bis 2 Jahren beobachten, der zweite Wachstumsspurt tritt wahrend der Pubert~tt auf. Ein
auBergewOhnlicher Anstieg der Beinl~inge l~13tsich auch bei l~mgeren Kindern im Alter zwischen 10 und 15
Jahren beobachten. Nach der Pubert~it w~ichst die Spannweite bei den l~.ngeren m~innlichen Kindern bis
zum Alter von 17 Jahren starker als die KOrperhOhe und bei langeren Kindern ist die Spannweite grOl3er
als die KOrperhOhe, w~hrend die Spannweite bei kleinen Kindern niemals grOBer ist als die KOrperhOhe.

R6sum~. Une 6tude transversale a 6t6 r6alis6e afln de d6couvrir s'il existe des corr61ations sp6cifiques
entre la stature, la longueur de la jambe et l'envergure, pendant la croissance des enfants cor6ens. La
stature, la longeur de la jambe et l'envergure ont 6t6 mesur6es chez 10322 enfants en bonne sant6 (4740
garcons et 5582 filles). On a calcul6 les rapports longeur jambe/stature, longueur jambe/envergure et
envergure/stature pour les 36me, 256me, 506me, 756me et 976me percentiles. On a trouv6 que les rapports
longueur jambe/stature, longueur jambe/envergure et envergure/stature 6taient plus 61ev6s chez les
enfants les plus grands que chez les plus petits b. l'int6rieur d'un m~me groupe d'~ge dans les deux sexes.
Tousles rapports sont plus 61ev6s chez les enfants plus ~.g6s que chez les plus jeunes, pour un m~me
percentile et darts les deux sexes, ce qui montre que tes rythmes de croissance de la longeur de la jambe et
de l'envergure, sont plus rapides que celui de la stature. Cependant, la croissance de la longueur de la
jambe est plus rapide chez les enfants plus petits que chez les plus grands jusqu'au d6but de la pubert6,
apr6s quoi la croissance de la longueur de la jambe chez les enfants plus grands est plus rapide que chez les
enfants plus petits. La premi6re et la plus rapide croissance de la longueur de la jambe, est observ6e de la
 458 Height, leg length and arm span in Korean children

naissance fl deux ans, la seconde acc616ration se produisant pendant la p6riode pubertaire. Un accroissement
exceptionneldelalonguerdelajambe entre 10et 15ans est 6galement not6 chezles enfantsles plus grands. Apr6s
la pubert6, l'envergure s'accroit plus vite que la stature jusqu'fl 17 ans chez les gargons les plus grands et les
enfants plus grands ont une envergure plus grande que la stature, tandis que l'envergure des enfants les plus
petits n'exc~de jamais la stature.
Ann Hum Biol Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Chulalongkorn University on 12/30/14
For personal use only.