Doctors and researchers utilise information about head and brain size to generate new medical advances. This knowledge regarding the size of the human head is also beneficial to other specialists worldwide. These include the fashion sector, makers of safety equipment, and eyewear manufacturers, among others.
The average human head has been calculated to measure 6-7 inches in breadth and 8-9 inches in length based on facts and reports. The average head circumference is between 21 and 23 inches. There are a number of elements that influence the actual size of a person’s head. These reveal a portion of them.
Gender
According to research undertaken at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford, men typically have larger heads than women. These investigations were conducted on 18- to 59-year-old men and women of both sexes. Comparing individuals of the same age, it was discovered that men tend to have brains that are 8 to 13 percent larger than women on average. Consequently, head circumferences grew.
Brain Size
The total size of the head is mostly determined by the size of the brain. The brain resides within the skull cavity. When a child is born, the skull is not fully formed or rigid. Localized soft areas covered by tough, fibrous membranes are known as fontanels, and they permit the foetal head to pass through the birth canal. The delicate fontanels close as the skull develops to accommodate the growing brain, as larger brains require larger cavities. This has a direct effect on the head circumference at the age of maturity.
Nutrition
When you hear that your diet affects your brain growth, you should recognise that this is real. The nutrition a person receives from the time they are in utero until they reach adulthood can influence the growth of their brains.
In diverse regions of the world, researchers monitored the effects of dietary factors on body and brain development. The findings indicate that mothers who consumed healthier diets throughout pregnancy gave birth to kids with normal body and head sizes. Babies with lesser weights were born in regions where nutrition was inadequate.
Birth Order (Multiple Baby Births)
When analysing the head circumference of multiple birth kids (such as twins and triplets), scientists discovered that birth order influences the size of the head. While children born first have a tendency to weigh more on average, those born last in multiple births tend to have a larger head circumference. This is owing to the space within the uterus and the child’s location. It also illustrates the impact of nutrients obtained by the foetus in utero. The size of the infant’s head at delivery is also affected by the gender of the infant. This also affects the pace of head growth in the initial stages of life, with male infants typically experiencing more rapid growth spurts.
Medical Conditions
There are numerous medical disorders that can change the size of a person’s head from birth throughout their lifetime. Among these conditions are the following:
Microcephaly
Macrocephaly
Cephalic Ailments
Russell Silver Syndrome
The Down syndrome
