Viola’s Method (1921)
Viola, an Italian physician proposed a classification of biotype (physique) based on a comprehensive system of anthropometric measurements. For general purposes, he took ten measurements:
- a) Sternum length
- b) Upper abdominal height
- c) Lower abdominal height
- d) Length of the arm
- e) Length of the leg
- f) Transverse thoracic diameter
- g) Antero-posterior thoracic diameter
- h) Transvere hypochondric diameter
- i) Antero- posterior hypochondric diameter
- j) Bi-iliac or transverse pelvic diameter
Three compound measurements namely stature, trunk height and total abdominal height were also considered. By manipulating these measurements he derived a measure of trunk volume and four morphological indices namely thoracic index, upper abdominal index, lower abdominal index and total abdominal index. He differentiated three morphological types:
- 1) Longytype: The longy type had long limbs relative to their trunk volume, large thorax relative to their abdomen, a large transverse diameter relative to anterior posterior diameter.
- 2) Brachitype: The brachitype was characterised by massiveness and robustness of body, the reverse of longytype. They had short limb relative to trunk, short transverse diameter relative to the antero-posterior diameter, short thorax relative to the abdomen.
- 3) Normatype: The normatypes were in between longitype and brachytype characterised by normally proportional limbs versus trunk, thorax versus abdomen, transverse versus antero-posterior widths.
- 4) Mixed: Mixed type shows disproportion in human body. It lacks uniformity in the physique.
The four indices failed to agree amongst themselves, one placing the individual in one category and another else where. It is obvious that Viola’s biotypology based on anthropometric measurements is morphological in orientation.