Four Books on Human Proportion

A detailed anatomical woodcut shows a female figure from behind, illustrating human proportions. This plate is from Albrecht Dürer's Four Books on Human Proportion (1528). The figure stands upright with her arms slightly extended. A grid covers the body to facilitate measurement. Vertical lines to the left indicate the proportional lengths of body segments using fractions like 1/10, 1/30, and 1/6. German labels identify anatomical points from the crown of the head to the soles of the feet.

1/6 and 1/12 These fractions represent segments of the total body height.
1/10
1/30
1/30
1/30
Crown
Forehead
Eyebrows
Nose
Chin

1/6 Hollow of the throat original: "Halßgrüblein." The suprasternal notch at the base of the neck.

11
9
Armpits original: "Achsen." An archaic term for Achseln.
Nipples original: "Tittlein." A diminutive form used historically in anatomical descriptions.
Under the breasts

4/10
Flanks original: "Weychen." The soft area of the waist between the ribs and the hips.
Navel

End of the hip

End of the crotch original: "ſcham." Literally "shame," the standard period term for the genital area.
End of the buttocks

2/5
3/8
Above the knee
Middle of the knee
Under the knee

8
End of the calf

8 and 9

1/10 Height of the instep original: "riſts." The arch or top part of the foot.
End of the ankle bone original: "knorren." Refers to the protruding malleolus of the ankle.
Soles