Skinfold Measurement Sites
There are many sites around the human body at which the skinfold pinch can be taken. The most common sites are featured below, with some of the less common and outdated sites also listed.
Whenever skinfold measures are taken, it is important for accuracy to find the correct location to take the skinfold pinch, and therefore the correct anatomical terms are used to describe the landmarks. On many of these descriptions I have added lay terms (in brackets) that may help the non-medically trained users to find the correct sites for taking the skinfold measurements. The caliper is applied 1 cm below and at right angles to the pinch - see the general skinfold procedure for more details.
Standard Skinfold Sites
Subscapular
AbdominalOther Traditional Sites
Other Sites
There have been other skinfold measurement sites used in the past, or others that are not used very commonly now. Some reference to the following skinfold measurements have been found, and the known details of the site landmark are listed.
- Forearm — several sites on the forearm
- Back Skinfolds — there are several sites on the back that have been used for taking skinfolds.
- Cheek or Malar Skinfolds — there are a few descriptions of the cheek site
- Chin — another facial skinfold site
- Dorsal hand - taken at the middle of the back of the hand and parallel to the long axis of the hand.
- Knee Cap (Patella) and Hamstring - see Thigh
- Rib 10 - see Chest
Related Pages
- Skinfold measurement procedure.
- About body composition tests
- Anthropometry
- Skinfold Results
- Videos of Anthropometric Tests including Skinfold Testing.
- Body Composition and Fitness
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