Asymmetries in body part size, mobility, and usage. Relationship between structure and function.
Asymmetries in structure (size) and function (usage or mobility) for the upper and lower face, hands, and feet were investigated in 42 left- and right-handed male and female college students. Size measurements were taken from photographs, mobility was rated from videotapes, and usage was assessed by questionnaire. Size asymmetries were typical, and independent of handedness, but were not consistent across body parts; usage asymmetries varied as a function of handedness. No systematic relationships were found between structure and function.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D006225:Hand / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D013223:Statistics as Topic