[Comparative analysis of variability in a complex of anthropometric traits in full-term and premature neonates]

Variations of four anthropometric traits (body weight, body length, circumference of head, and circumference of chest) were compared in 149 premature and 819 full-term newborns. The average value of every studied trait for premature newborns was much less than that for full-term newborns. In premature boys, the correlation between body weight and length and circumferences of head and chest was substantially decreased. The coefficient of linear correlation between body mass and body weight for premature newborns was higher than that for full-term newborns. This was accounted for by the peculiarities of growth of the fetus during late prenatal development. Premature, boys and girls, in contrast to full-term children, did not differ considerably in the average values of the anthropometric traits studied. Therefore, the differences between newborn boys and girls in weight and size (sexual dimorphism) are formed at the last month of prenatal development.