Growth chart

A Somatogramm (from Greek σῶμα soma, body and γράμμα gramma, Written ) is a diagram that is used to determine the physical development of an infant, toddler or young person in terms of body measurements (length, weight, head circumference ) represent.

Method

Here, plotted on the abscissa, as a rule, the age and on the ordinate the corresponding measurement value. In this coordinate system called percentile curves with the statistical normal distribution of the current reading for children of different ages are shown. If one looks now in the coordinate system age and measured value of the index child on, you can read on which percentile the measured value is, in other words, what percentage of the same age children are smaller or lighter. For example, if a child with his height at the 25th percentile, 25 % of his peers are smaller, 75 % are larger.

Since the weight relation is highly dependent on the length of the child to the age, better diagrams be used for its assessment on which the abscissa is the length and the ordinate represents the weight is applied. More specifically, the assessment is by calculating the body mass index (BMI = weight / length ²). Again, there are Somatogramme with age on the abscissa and the measured value of BMI on the ordinate. For newborn and premature babies have their own Somatogramme on which the measurements are plotted in relation to the duration of pregnancy.