Sex-specific charts for abdominal circumference in term and near-term Caucasian newborns
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Clinical Anthropometrics and Body Composition from 3-Dimensional Optical Imaging
Published on: June 7, 2024
Gerardo Rodríguez1, Ma Pilar Samper, Purificación Ventura
1Departamento de Pediatría, Radiología y Medicina Física, University of Zaragoza, Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa, C/ Domingo Miral s/n. 50009 Zaragoza, Spain. gereva@comz.org
Aims:
Abdominal circumference (AC) assessment may be used as an index of abdominal visceral size, fetal fat store, and intrauterine nutrition. The aim of this study is to construct sex-specific references and smoothed percentiles for AC at birth in term and near-term Caucasian infants.
Methods:
AC was measured in 4542 singleton newborns (2323 males, 2219 females), at a gestational age > or =35 weeks. Smoothed percentiles for AC were constructed by sex and gestational age according to the LMS method.
Results:
Males had higher AC than females but differences were only statistically significant beyond 37 weeks. AC increased from 35 to 41 weeks in both sexes.
Conclusions:
Sex-specific references constructed for AC in term and near-term Caucasian newborns might be used, as other anthropometric parameters, in the assessment of nutritional status at birth.
Related Concept Videos
Signs of Puberty
Abdominal Regions and Quadrants
The simpler quadrants approach, which is more commonly used in medicine, subdivides the cavity with one horizontal and one vertical line that intersects at the patient's umbilicus (navel). The four quadrants...
The X̄ Chart
The x̄ chart, often known as the individual control chart, is a crucial tool in statistical process control. It is designed to monitor process behavior and performance over time and is widely used in various industries to ensure that processes are operating at their optimum capacity and within specified limits.
A x̄ chart is constructed by plotting individual measurements of a quality characteristic in the order in which...
Assessment of the Abdomen I: Inspection and Auscultation
The abdominal examination is a cornerstone of clinical medicine, serving as a critical tool in diagnosing various gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. It involves a systematic approach that includes inspection and auscultation, each with distinct yet complementary roles in assessing the abdomen. This article will delve into these two primary methods healthcare professionals use to examine the abdomen.
Inspection of the Abdomen
The first step in any abdominal examination is inspection.
Interpreting X̄ Charts
An x̄ chart plots the values of individual measurements over time against control limits calculated from historical data. The central line represents the process mean,...

