Stature
Origin
Middle English, from Anglo-French estature, stature, from Latin statura, from status, past participle of stare to stand
Definitions
- 1: natural height (as of a person) in an upright position
- 2: quality or status gained by growth, development, or achievement
Description
Stature as human height is the distance from the bottom of the feet to the top of the head in a human body standing erect.
When populations share genetic background and environmental factors, average height is frequently characteristic within the group. Exceptional height variation (around 20% deviation from average) within such a population is usually due to gigantism or dwarfism; which are medical conditions due to specific genes or to endocrine abnormalities.
In regions of extreme poverty or prolonged warfare, environmental factors like malnutrition during childhood or adolescence may account for marked reductions in adult stature even without the presence of any of these medical conditions.[1]
