Fankfurt Plan

The Frankfurt Plane or Frankfort Plane (Both spellings are used), also known as the Frankfort horizontal, is a widely accepted reference plane used in the measurement of human height.

The Frankfurt Plane is an imaginary line that passes through the top of the ear canal and the inferior margin of the eye socket and continues on to intersect the ground. It is considered important in the measurement of human height because it provides a standardized and objective reference point for measuring the stature of individuals.

Human height is an important physical characteristic that is widely used in a variety of fields, including anthropology, clinical medicine, sports science, and ergonomics. In these fields, accurate measurement of height is crucial in order to establish norms, assess growth and development, and make comparisons between individuals or groups. The Frankfort Plane was first introduced in the early 20th century as a way to standardize height measurement, as previous methods were often inconsistent and unreliable.

One of the main advantages of using the Frankfort Plane as a reference for measuring height is that it eliminates variations in posture and head tilt. In previous methods, height was often measured by simply standing up straight and having someone measure from the top of the head to the floor. However, this method was subject to variations in posture, as people often unconsciously tilted their heads forward, backward, or to the side, resulting in measurement inaccuracies. The Frankfort Plane solves this problem by providing a fixed reference point that is independent of posture.

The Frankfield Plane is also useful for assessing changes in height over time. This is because it provides a consistent and objective measurement, regardless of variations in posture or other factors that can affect height measurement. This allows for accurate tracking of growth and development over time, and is particularly useful in the evaluation of children and adolescents.

Another advantage of the Frankfort Plane is that it allows for comparison of height between individuals of different ages, genders, and cultural backgrounds. Since the reference plane is standardized and independent of posture, height measurements taken using the Frankfort Plane can be compared between individuals regardless of their individual characteristics. This makes it a valuable tool for research in fields such as anthropology, where the study of height differences between populations is important.

The Frankfort Plane is an important reference plane for measuring height because it provides a standardized, objective, and consistent reference point for measuring human stature. By eliminating variations in posture and providing a consistent measurement over time, the Frankfort Plane allows for accurate tracking of growth and development, and enables comparisons between individuals of different ages, genders, and cultural backgrounds. As a result, it has become a widely accepted standard in the measurement of height and continues to be used in a variety of fields today.