Body habitus

Body habitus refers to the common variations in the shape of the human body, which in turn determines the position of internal viscera.

Body habitus indicates the body wall thickness and the placement of organs and hence determines technical and exposure factors for radiographic density, contrast, and radiation dose ^1,2. 

Types 

The four major types of body habitus are as follows ³:

Sthenic

Also known as average, mesomorphic. It is a moderately heavy build with the organs oriented as such:

• heart

  • moderately transverse 

• lungs

  • moderate in length

• diaphragm

  • moderately high

• colon

  • spread evenly with a slight dip in the transverse colon

• gallbladder

  • right upper abdomen

Asthenic

Also known as very slender, ectomorphic. It is a frail build with the organs oriented as such:

• heart

  • nearly vertical and in the midline

• lungs

  • long

  • apices above clavicles

  • may be broader above base

• diaphragm

  • low

• stomach

  • low

  • near the midline

• colon

  • low

  • folds on itself

• gallbladder

  • relatively lower

  • close to the midline

Hyposthenic

• intermediate between the sthenic and asthenic body habitus types also known as slender

• similar to asthenic but the stomach, intestines and gallbladder are situated relatively higher in the abdomen

Hypersthenic

Also known as endomorphic. It is a largerbuild with the organs oriented as such:

• heart

  • axis is almost transverse

• lungs

  • short

  • apices lie near the clavicles

• diaphragm

  • high

• stomach

  • high

  • transverse and in the middle

• colon

  • around the periphery of the abdomen

• gallbladder

  • high