Researchers and doctors use information on head and brain size to create new medical improvements. Other experts throughout the world can also benefit from knowing this information about head size. The fashion industry, makers of safety gear, eyewear manufacturers, and other similar organisations fall under this category.

According to surveys and data gathered, the average human head is between 6-7 inches wide and between 8 and 9 inches long. The human head measures 21 to 23 inches in circumference on average. The precise dimensions of each person’s head depend on a number of things. These reveal a few of them.

Gender

Men’s heads tend to be bigger than women’s, according to research from the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford. Men and women between the ages of 18 and 59 were the subjects of these research. The results showed that men typically had brains that are 8 to 13 percent larger on average than women when comparing people of the same age. Head circumferences increased as a result of this.

brain volume

The size of the brain plays a significant role in determining the size of the head. The hollow of the skull contains the brain. The skull is not fully developed or joined when a newborn is born. The foetal head can pass through the birth canal thanks to small, soft areas known as fontanels that are surrounded by hard, fibrous membranes. Over time, delicate fontanels shut as the skull changes to fit the developing brain because larger brains require larger cavities. At the time of maturity, this has a direct impact on the head’s diameter.

Nutrition

You should be aware that it’s accurate to say that what you consume has an impact on how your brain develops. The nutrition a person receives from conception through adulthood and the foods they choose to eat can have an impact on how big their brains grow.

Studies carried out all over the world tracked the effects of nutrition on the growth of the body and the mind. The results demonstrate that pregnant women who followed healthier diets delivered children whose bodies and heads fell within the usual range. Babies of smaller proportions were born in areas with inferior nutrition.

Birth Sequence (Multiple Baby Births)

Scientists have discovered that the birth order affects the size of the head of newborns born as a result of multiple births (such as twins and triplets). Children of these multiple births who are born last tend to have a larger head circumference, despite the fact that children who are born first typically weigh more. This results from the child’s location and the spacing within the uterus. It also demonstrates the effects of nutrition on the developing foetus. The size of the head at birth will also depend on whether the infant is a boy or a girl. Male babies typically have earlier development spurts than female babies, and this affects the rate at which the head will develop early in life.

Health Conditions

The size of a person’s head can be impacted by a wide range of medical issues from birth throughout their lives. These conditions include, among others:

Microcephaly
Macrocephaly
disorders of the skull
Case of Russell Silver
The Down syndrome