Abstract: According to the Heath-Carter somatotyping method, this study analysed the somatotype of 441 Han infants (222 boys and 219 girls) aged from 3 to 6 in Wuhu urban districts, The results are as follows: The values of endomorph and mesomorph decreased slightly but that of ectomorph increased rapidly with growth. In each age group of both sexes, the somatotype ratings were high in the mesomorphic, and low in the ectomorphic, and medium in the endomorphic. The somatotype distribution was concentrated in lower age group, and then diffused with the increase of age. Majority of individuals were of endomorphic mesomorph in 3 —5 year groups of both sexes. The distributions of somatotype in groups aged 6 of both sexes were more diffuse as shown in Table 2. Compared with Prague infants, there was very significant difference in the characteristic of somatotype.

Key words: Heath-Carter somatotyping method; Anthropometry; Infants; Han nationality