SOMATOLOGY (from Gk. cioaca, soma, body, -Toy/a, -logia, account, from TEyctv, iegein, to That division of anthropology which treats of the anatomy and physiology of mankind, es pecially by a comparative survey of different races from this point of view. Anatomical somatology deals with stature, tegument, pigmentation, meas urements of the body, and the anatomy of special portions of it. Under physiological somatology are included discussions of the functions of nu trition, respiration. circulation, communication, reproduction, and the influenee of environment, as well as various problems of a 1i4ychological or a pathological nature. Stature. the first anatomi cal division of somatology, treats of the height of mankind. and thus of giants (q.v.) and dwarfs (q.v.) also. while the tegumentary study con cerns itself with the varying phenomena presented in the skin and pelage of different races. Pig mentation deals with the complexion (q.v.) or color of the skin, the colors of the eyes and hair, and with such deviations from the normal type as the albino (q.v.). One of the most important provinces of somatology is the measurement of the body, thus affording ratios for comparative study. These ratios form the basis of the anthro pometric indexes, of which the chief ones are the cephalic, cranial, nasal. facial. dental. maxillary,
and pelvic. The anatomy of special parts of the body is of less importance excepting in the case of the brain, yet there is scarcely a part of the body which does not undergo ethnic varia tion.
Physiological somatology shows as marked a diversity as the anatomic-al division, although it has been far less studied. The functions of nu trition and the temperature of the body show' comparatively slight variations. while respiration and circulation are noticeably divergent. The functions of communication, including the ex pression of emotions, the acuteness of the senses. and similar phenomena, differ to a degree xvhich is remarkable and important. Susceptibility to environment is also marked by great variation, and the same statement holds regarding patho logical features, such as relative predisposition to or immunity from diseases. Psychological diver gencies, like reproductive variations. while mani festly existent, have not yet been reduced to scientific classification. Consult: Roberts. Mun mil of Anthropoinctry (London. 1S78) Deniker, Parrs of Man (ib., 1900 ) ; Li vi, .1 throiwinctria (Milan, 1900). See ANTERorOMETRY; INDEX.