In a cross-sectional study of growth, 5, 260 healthy children of both sexes from Zagreb (Croatia) aged 2 to 18 years were measured. Six transversal body dimensions were studied: biacromial, transverse chest, antero-posterior chest, biiliocristal, bicondylar humerus and bicondylar femur diamters. A significant increase in body diameters is observed until 14 to 15 years in girls and until 16 years in boys, showing that girls had 1 to 2 years shorter period of growth. Compared to boys of the same age, they achieved larger amounts of final transversal size of bones throughout the whole growth period. The most pronounced example was the knee diameter that in girls attained 95% of adult size already at the age of 10 years. In both genders, the adult size is achieved earlier in widths of the extremities than those of the trunk. The studied transversal body segments showed different growth dynamics, which is gender-specific. While sexual dimorphism in pelvic and shoulder diameters emerged with pubertal spurt, gender differences in chest and extremities’ diameters started early in life. In all ages, boys had larger chest, elbow and knee diameters. In pubertal age, boys gained significantly larger biacromial diameter (from the age of 13 years on) while girls exceeded them in biiliocristal diameter (from 10 to 14 years). The findings of gender differences were compared to those reported for other European populations and their growth patters discussed with a comparative viewpoint.

Biologija,Javno zdravstvo i zdravstvena zaštita,Etnologija i antropologija