The baby's head in the first year of life: what should young parents know? What determines the shape of a baby's head?

After all, the first month of a child’s life becomes for him the first critical period after birth: it is characterized by the intense work of all organs and systems of the body “responsible” for the adaptation of the newborn to environmental conditions that are fundamentally new for him. By the end of this period, all transition processes should be completed, however, under the influence of unfavorable environmental conditions, with aggravated pregnancy and childbirth, the natural adaptation processes for a newborn can take on a pathological direction and lead to a neurological disease of the child.

It is at this time that it is necessary to visit a neurologist for the first time - usually just to make sure that everything is fine with the baby; but if this is not the case, in order to identify and “capture” the pathology at the very beginning, to prevent the disease from developing. To determine the level of development of the child and exclude neurological pathology, it is important not only to assess the formed reactions to light, sound, motor and psycho-emotional activity of the newborn, but also his appearance (in fact, it is this last topic that my article will mainly be devoted to).

So, what will a neurologist first of all pay attention to when examining a one-month-old baby? On the shape and size of his skull, facial expression, posture, appearance of the skin. Why is this so important? Why are our worries and worries often associated with the presence of deviations in the child’s appearance, especially if this is a change in the shape and size of the skull? This is primarily due to the fact that such changes can be a diagnostic sign of serious diseases - hydrocephalus and microcephaly.

The shape and size of the skull is a possible pathology

Hydrocephalus - this is an excessive increase in the size of the skull and fontanelles, caused by an increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid in the cranial cavity. With this disease, the shape of the skull also changes - its cerebral part significantly predominates over the facial part, the frontal part protrudes sharply forward, and a pronounced venous network is observed in the area of ​​the temples and forehead.

Microcephaly - this is a reduction in the size of the skull and early closure of the fontanelles. With congenital microcephaly, the size of the skull is small from birth, the cranial sutures are narrowed, the fontanelles are either closed or small in size. Subsequently, a slow rate of growth in head circumference is noted, so that sometimes a 2-3 year old child’s skull size is almost the same as at birth. With microcephaly, the skull has a specific shape: the cerebral part of the skull is smaller than the facial part, the forehead is small, sloping, the line of the forehead and nose is sloping.

Conditions such as hydro- and microcephaly subsequently lead to delayed mental and physical development and therefore require correction from a very early age!

...or a reason for further examination?

But should every deviation from the norm clearly indicate a pathological condition? Of course not! Clinical observations show that there are many factors that influence the shape and size of the head. Of course, even a slight increase or decrease in the circumference of the skull in a newborn compared to the age norm can be considered a risk factor for the development of hydrocephalus or microcephaly, but you should not panic when you discover that the baby’s head is slightly larger or smaller than normal: this circumstance should first of all, become a signal for the need for additional examinations to exclude pathological conditions. What kind of examinations are these?

• An absolutely safe and reliable method is neurosonography(ultrasound examination of the brain through the large fontanelle). This study will help not only to see changes in the structure of the brain and signs of increased intracranial pressure, but also to evaluate blood flow through the main vessels of the brain.
• An even more reliable method is nuclear magnetic resonance of the brain (NMR), however, this study for children is carried out under general anesthesia, so it is carried out only for sufficiently compelling indications.
• In this case, consultations with an ophthalmologist and a neurosurgeon are also necessary.

"Homework" for parents

In addition, right from birth you can independently control increase in baby's head circumference, which is one of the main indicators of normality and pathology. How to do this correctly?

• Measure the child's head circumference weekly and record the resulting numbers in a specially kept notebook.
• When measuring, place the measuring tape at the most protruding points of the skull (frontal and occipital protuberances).
• To avoid misunderstandings, the measurement must be carried out by the same person.

In addition to the increase in head circumference, you can control increase in chest circumference, which is one of the general anthropometric indicators of child development. For this:

• Measure your chest circumference weekly on the same day you measure your head circumference;
• Place the measuring tape at the level of the baby's nipple line.

Why is such “amateur activity” needed? By taking these simple measurements, you will help the doctor draw up an objective picture of the child’s development, and you yourself can have peace of mind, excluding the possibility of developing serious diseases (normally, the monthly increase in head circumference in the first three months of a full-term baby should not exceed 2 cm per month; up to a year, the circumference The chest is approximately 1 cm larger than the child’s head circumference).

Well, now a few words about what can and should be normal and what is pathological. I tried to frame the conversation on this topic in the form of answers to questions that most often concern young parents.

What determines the shape of a newborn’s skull?

Normally, as a child passes through the birth canal, the bones of the skull overlap each other. Features of the course of the birth process affect changes in the shape of the skull. In the event of a complicated birth, a sharp juxtaposition of the skull bones may occur on top of each other, and this will lead to its deformation, which will persist for quite a long time.

A change in the shape of the skull can be expressed in the preservation swelling soft tissues of the head in the place where the child moved forward along the birth canal. The swelling disappears within the first 2-3 days. Cephalohematoma(hemorrhage under the periosteum) also changes the shape of the skull. It resolves more slowly than swelling, and this process requires the supervision of specialists (neurologist, surgeon).

Changes in the shape of the skull are also associated with age-related characteristics. In a newborn, the skull is elongated in the anteroposterior direction, and after a few months the transverse size of the skull will increase and its shape will change.

Some change in the shape and size of the skull can also occur during normal development in premature babies, or when the child is often placed on the same side, or when the child lies on his back for a long time.

How does a newborn's head grow?

The average head circumference of a newborn is 35.5 cm (the range of 33.0-37.5 cm is considered normal). The most intensive increase in head circumference in full-term babies is observed in the first 3 months - on average, 1.5 cm for each month. Then the growth decreases slightly, and by the age of one year the child’s head circumference is on average 46.6 cm (normal limits are 44.9 - 48.9 cm).

The head circumference of a premature baby increases faster than that of a full-term baby, and the increase is most pronounced during the period of active weight gain, and by the end of the 1st year of life it reaches normal values. The exception is very premature babies.

However, one should always keep in mind that even with normal development of a child, there may be physiological deviations from average values, which are often associated with constitutional characteristics or environmental influences.

What is a fontanel in a child?

The fontanelles are located in the area where the bones of the skull meet. Front, big , the fontanel is located between the frontal and parietal bones. At birth, it measures from 2.5 to 3.5 cm, then gradually decreases by 6 months and closes at 8-16 months. Rear, small , the fontanel is located between the parietal and occipital bones. It is small in size and closes by 2-3 months of life.

In pathological processes accompanied by increased intracranial pressure, the fontanelles close later, and sometimes they open again. Small sizes of the anterior fontanel may be a variant of the norm if they are not accompanied by a decrease in the circumference of the skull, the rate of its growth and a delay in psychomotor development.

The above signs do not limit the variety of possible deviations in a young child. However, it should be borne in mind that any unusual appearance of a child requires a thorough examination and monitoring of his growth and development.

When and how should a neurologist examine a child?

The development of a young child is a very sensitive sign of the state of the body. It depends both on hereditary characteristics and on a complex set of social conditions and requires dynamic monitoring by doctors. Don’t forget to show your baby to specialists within the prescribed time frame - 1, 3, 6, 12 months!

If you invite a specialist to your home, you must consider the following:

• the examination of the child should be carried out on a changing table or other soft, but not sagging surface;
• the environment should be calm, eliminate distractions if possible;
• It is advisable to carry out the examination 1.5-2 hours after feeding;
• the air temperature in the room should be about 25° C, the lighting should be bright, but not irritating.

In conclusion of the article, I would like to remind you once again: do not delay your visit to a neurologist, remember - the timeliness of all health-improving, preventive and therapeutic measures aimed at ensuring its normal development depends on the correct assessment of the newborn’s health, and only a specialist can give a correct assessment!

When parents of a baby first hear the diagnosis, inexperienced fathers and mothers fall into real horror. Dozens of questions come to mind, but we will say one thing - flat head syndrome is a very common problem and can be quickly treated and corrected.

"So simple!" believes that it is better to prevent a problem than to treat a disease. These 4 tips will help maintain the health of the baby and the psyche of the parents. Everything is very simple!

Head shape in children

Plagiocephaly, or flattening of the head in infants, develops due to constant pressure on a certain part of the soft and pliable baby's skull. Babies tend to sleep a lot, and often parents place their babies on their backs. Monotonous posture of the child during sleep - fatal mistake unprepared parents.

In the fetus, a similar pathology can develop before birth due to multiple pregnancies or pressure exerted by the pelvic structures. Tightness in the uterus can also cause torticollis, which also leads to flattening of the baby's skull.

Plagiocephaly is more common in premature babies, whose skull is softer and more plastic, and the fact that such children spend a lot of time lying down in a hospital has an extremely detrimental effect on their health.

By the way, Irregular head shape in a child within a few days or even weeks after birth is normal. Over time, the baby develops flattening on one side of the skull - this is plagiocephaly.

Pediatricians say that this syndrome does not affect the baby’s brain development and does not cause long-term cosmetic problems. However, it is still better to prevent the problem! And these 4 tips are a cheat sheet for all young parents.

Don't worry! Plagiocephaly is a reversible process; you just need to seek the help of a specialist as soon as possible. And don’t forget about such useful procedures as massage and bathing. They will allow you to better strengthen the muscles of the baby’s neck and back and are an excellent prevention of flat head syndrome.

There is no need to say how much parents worry when they notice any deviations in the development of their baby. Skull deformation in children is a very serious cause for concern for many mothers and fathers. However, in some cases these experiences are in vain, since the phenomenon is associated with the natural development of the child. However, parents need to monitor the size of the child’s head circumference and cranial deformations. In some cases, observation will help identify a dangerous pathology at an early stage. So let's deal with all the problems that worry new parents.

Baby's head circumference

In the first 12 months of his life, the baby grows and develops rapidly. The process also applies to the baby’s head - during this period the diameter of his skull should increase by several centimeters!

The greatest activity of this stage is observed in the first half of life. In a one-month-old baby, compared to a newborn, the diameter of the skull will increase by 2 cm! This process slows down only by the 4th month of life.

Parents sometimes think that the fetus has a big head. There is nothing pathogenic or scary about this. The baby's body will acquire the correct proportions only by one year. But at the 15-16th week of life, his chest and head will be completely the same diameter.

What is the normal skull circumference for a newborn?

The normal head circumference of a newborn baby is 35 cm. However, taking into account individual characteristics, the normal diameter of the skull will be in the range of 32-38 cm. Further observation is carried out taking into account the size of the head circumference at birth.

If the indicators are slightly higher than normal, then, accordingly, during subsequent development, a small increase will be normal. If the head size at birth is smaller than standard, then this should be taken into account when analyzing development indicators.

Table with baby head sizes

The table specially compiled by scientists “Child’s head circumference by month” is very helpful here. You can read it in the article. The table not only shows the norm for a certain age, but deviations from it that are not pathological.

However, the table “Child’s head circumference by month” is not able to reflect the individual characteristics of each baby. Therefore, measurements should only be taken by a pediatrician, analyzing the results regarding a specific baby.

Each parent can independently calculate the normal increase in the size of their child’s skull as they grow and develop:

• Children 0-6 months have the fastest increase in head diameter. Every month it normally increases by 1.5-2 cm.
• It is considered normal for babies 0.5-1 years old to increase their head circumference by 0.5-1 cm every month.

Pathological and non-dangerous deviations in head size

Why is it so important to monitor the increase in the diameter of the baby's head? Sizes that are too small or too large may indicate a serious illness. But deviations are not always pathological in nature. The main reasons are as follows:

• Hydrocephalus. This is a pathologically large head in a newborn. A congenital defect that causes dropsy of the brain. It leads to swelling of the baby’s fontanel, an increase in the size of the skull, and a characteristic protrusion of the venous network on the head. The danger of the defect is that it can lead to both serious neurological disorders and death.
• Microcephaly. With this pathology, the baby, on the contrary, has a very small head. A closed fontanelle does not allow the skull to expand. Such developmental delay is fraught with a wide range of consequences.
• Consequences of birth trauma. One of the common reasons. When passing through the birth canal, the child could touch not only the internal tissues of the mother, but also hit the bones with his head through their thickness. The injury leads to the appearance of edema. In most cases, this effect goes away on its own within 24 hours. But a certain percentage of children require serious treatment. Swelling at some point makes the child's head larger than normal.
• Hereditary factor. If most of your family members have a somewhat large or small head, then it is not surprising that the newborn heir will boast of a similar feature. You should warn your pediatrician about this fact.

An uneven head is normal!

Let's move on from sizes to skull deformations in children. Experts tell us: an uneven head in a baby is absolutely normal!

The fact is that the fetus’s body, like its mother, is also preparing for the upcoming birth. That is why, until birth, wise nature leaves the bones of the child’s skull soft. This helps him pass through the narrow birth canal more easily.

If a woman gives birth to a baby naturally, his head is normally slightly deformed or enlarged. Children born by caesarean section, as a rule, will not have this feature.

The flat head of infants at birth is somewhat elongated, which leads to deformations of the skull in children and the appearance of small irregularities. There is no need to worry here. In the process of development and growth, the asymmetry will pass, and the irregularities will smooth out.

A child’s head becomes round and even in shape only by one year of age. And the final circumference of the skull in most children is formed only by school age.

Why was the child’s skull deformed?

Skull deformation in infants can occur not only at birth. Sometimes parents notice that during development, the child’s skull has changed unnaturally. What's happened?

Let's look at the most common cases:

• Strongly elongated or sloping back of the head. In this case, the head may be uneven, flattened, and its size no longer corresponds to normal. What does this type of skull shape indicate? The problem most often is that the baby is in the same type of lying position for too long. Newborns have the peculiarity of tilting their head to a certain side. This leads to the development of skull deformation in children.
• The baby’s skull bones remain soft for a long time. This is provided by nature for a reason: this feature allows the brain to develop unhindered and protects the child himself from injury. Therefore, if he often turns his head in a certain direction, lies on one side, all this can affect the shape of his skull. Mothers always move the child from one position to another, placing him in different directions from the object of interest.
• Don't forget about the fontanel. This is an area on the head characterized by elastic soft tissues. While the fontanel is open and not closed, the shape of the child’s skull can sometimes change significantly. The head becomes lopsided or flat if the baby just lies in the same position for a long time. Therefore, parents should always pay attention to this fact so that in the future the adult child does not blame them for his disproportionate skull shape.

When does the danger of deformation pass?

Don’t think that you will always have to monitor how often your baby turns his head to the right or left, or which side he lies on more often. Pediatricians reassure: deformation of the skull in an infant is a phenomenon characteristic of the period when he can only lie down.

As soon as the baby learns to sit down and begins to spend more time in an upright position, the situation will change. As a rule, already in the 2-3rd month of life, the baby’s skull becomes noticeably straighter, deformations disappear, and the head gradually begins to take on a permanent correct shape.

By the way, the opposite problem here will be the overgrowth of fontanelles too quickly. In this case, the skull becomes prematurely rigid. Of course, this saves the baby from the danger of skull deformation earlier, but it is fraught with other things. The child suffers from increased intracranial pressure.

Pathological causes of deformation

We have discussed common harmless cases. However, deformation of the shape of the skull in children can also occur for serious reasons:

• Rickets.
• Neck curvature.
• Hematoma.

Let's consider each of the situations in detail.

Rickets

Rickets is a disease that still occurs quite often in young children. Deformation of the head shape is one of its most common manifestations.

The cause of rickets is a lack of calcium in the body. Because of this, the baby grows and develops slowly, his bones are weak and fragile. Another consequence is that the fontanelles do not heal for a long time. Therefore, the cranial bones remain soft even in a relatively large child. And, as a result, they remain susceptible to deformation longer.

Treatment is prescribed in the form of taking medications containing calcium and vitamin D. It is also important to introduce foods rich in these elements into the baby’s diet and spend time with him in the fresh air more often.

Curvature of the neck

The child constantly turns and tilts his head to one side, which over time causes deformation of his skull. However, we need to figure out why he does this.

The reason is not always a matter of habit. Often this behavior is a sign of curvature of the cervical vertebra. What should parents do in this case? See a pediatric surgeon or neurologist for examination as soon as possible. The specialist will prescribe a treatment that is quite effective in dealing with the problem in the early stages.

Hematoma

A hematoma is an accumulation of blood or other biological fluid at the site of rupture of soft tissue cells. It can occur both under the skin and near the skull bone. Such a formation can severely deform the small head of a newborn.

A hematoma may appear on his head as a result of a birth injury. This is especially true for large children and babies with a large skull. Passing through the mother's birth canal, it can easily be damaged by her internal organs and bones.

Children who were born by caesarean section are not immune from hematoma on the head. Here the baby abruptly moves from his comfortable environment to an external, completely different one. A stressful situation is reflected on the external surfaces. They become too susceptible, which is why any impact can damage them and cause the formation of a hematoma.

How to correct the deformation?

We found that deformation of the shape of the skull in infants is a common phenomenon. However, with any problem that bothers you, it is best to see your pediatrician!

If the causes of the deformation are not pathological, then it can be easily combated in a number of simple ways:

1. Change your baby's position in the crib periodically. As a rule, it is placed on the back. Then tilt the head to the right or left. You can change its position along with the position of the body.
2. Do not turn your baby completely onto his or her side. You can place a blanket under his left or right side while lying on his back to change his position.
3. When breastfeeding, the mother should ensure that she holds the baby with a different hand each time.
4. Pediatricians also advise periodically turning the baby onto his tummy. But at the same time, don’t leave him for a second! There is a high chance that he may suffocate by burying his nose in a blanket or pillow.
5. If you have already noticed a deformation, then change the location of the crib so that the beveled part is on the “uninteresting” side (for example, towards the wall), and the baby no longer lays his head on it.
6. It is advisable to periodically change the location of the crib in the room so that the child can examine everything without being frozen in the same position day after day.
7. Do not let your baby fall asleep on a pillow or other soft surface.
8. In some cases, massage helps. However, for such help you should only contact a qualified specialist.

Treatment - helmet?

If the above tips do not correct the situation, then the asymmetry can be corrected with the help of a special bandage, similar in shape to a helmet. The device gently acts on the deformed areas for a certain time, returning them to their normal position.

The helmet is effective at 4-6 months of life. And provided that the child wears it constantly for 12 weeks. The device is removed only for hygiene procedures. In addition, once every week or two, parents adjust the size of the bandage, taking into account the fact that the child’s head is growing.

Deformation of the shape of the baby’s skull in most cases will not be a dangerous symptom. It can be dealt with by following simple recommendations and wearing a special bandage.

The human face, in its general relationship, corresponds to the following five geometric figures: quadrangle, circle, oval, triangle and cone.

Every human head is contained in one or another of these figures. These five general types of human physiognomy constitute one of the foundations on which our doctrine and system of physiognomy may be founded.

Each of these types is divided into three classes, determined by the proportionality of the type. Thus we have:

1. Type quadrangular proportional, quadrangular extended type and quadrangular short type.

2. Type round proportional, long round type and short round type.

3. Type oval proportional, long oval type and short oval type.

4. Triangular type proportional, long triangular type and short triangular type.

5. Cone type proportional, cone-shaped elongated type, cone-shaped short type.

Typical features and its physiognomic indications change in some way under the influence of temperament and in particular under the influence of certain typical factors, which can produce significant changes in geometric types and which can have an imprint of a specific character, which we will consider in the next special section. Each type actually contains different abilities, instincts, passions, which can be in it or in action, or remain inert. All these properties can be strengthened or weakened, depending on the physique and the mixture of characteristic features of a given type.

The absence of the necessary harmony between type and temperament gives rise to conflicts of tendencies that do not get along with each other; from here arise unevenness and oddities of character, such as mania, contradictions in feelings, desires, tendencies, impulses, actions and tastes; hence these eccentric individuals, these original fantastic and imperfect minds.

With the relationship between type and mixed temperament, the elements of which do not agree with each other, oddities of character and mental abilities occur. Such a subject always acts contrary to his thoughts: saying one thing, doing another; preaching morality, he not only does not follow it, but sometimes acts downright immorally. While preaching philanthropy, he remains a rude, stingy and callous egoist, or, while encouraging others to courage, he himself is the first to become a coward and run away at the slightest danger; While advertising the ideas of tolerance and freedom, he at the same time holds himself as an authority, despot and tyrant in his family and social relations.

Finally, another writes wonderful treatises against the death penalty and tenderly sensual poems, but at the same time ponders plans for universal destruction and invents the most terrible weapons of war. However, these contradictions are not always indicators of double-mindedness, hypocrisy or extravagance; most often this is only an indicator of a discrepancy between character and mental abilities.

It is extremely important to know that each type, taken as a whole, is divided into the following three classes:

1) the pure type, or basic, approaching its geometric figure;

2) long type and

3) short type.

These types, although coming from the same family, nevertheless have their own special character and, therefore, their own distinctive individuality.

Based on these three divisions, we can say that for each of them, feelings, instincts, passions and impulses retain a special form, energy and mode of action inherent in them. Let's take the quadrangular type as an example.

In the pure quadrangular type, all the subject’s activities are exclusively aimed at positivity and practicality, and, consequently, towards material life interests. Feelings of this type are positive, reasonable and complete; such a subject acts on the basis of reason, but not the heart.

The quadrangular elongated type, while not being an idealist, is at the same time less positive than the previous one. This subject is able to understand the true interests of life, but at the same time he connects with them some spiritual needs. Although his feelings originate in his head, they are also not alien to the influence of his heart. The passions of these individuals are not as persistent, decisive and absolute as in the previous type.

The short quadrilateral type contains rude inclinations and base instincts. His character is prone to cruelty, steadfastness and malice. His passions are strong and of a rough and animal nature. This subject is dangerous and terrible due to his bad inclinations and his penchant for rowdy behavior, wild antics, cruelty and crime.

However, let's not get ahead of ourselves and consider all types of human faces in order.

Rice. 9. Basic geometric face shapes

Explanation of the five geometric types

Quadrangular face type

This type is an indicator of an energetic, rude, harsh, very stubborn nature, a strong character, reaching the point of inflexibility and even very often cruelty. People of this type are distinguished by very decisive ideas, they are short and sharp in their judgments. Criticizing the ideas of others, they cannot tolerate contradiction and tend to impose their opinions on others. They are clever reasoners, their logic is compressed and powerful, very often distorted by a mania of contradiction, which easily leads them to sophisms. They have a particularly developed practical sense. The positivism of their mind destroys some impulses of idealism. A systematic mindset forces them to do everything to measure. Out of a desire to know the reason for things, they rummage through various issues and delve deeper into these questions in order to discover this reason in them, they have a strange pleasure in viewing and examining things from different angles of illumination. The power of observation and analysis drives them to tackle the most intractable problems. They bring their projects to completion thanks to patience, perseverance and consistency. Labor and obstacles not only do not discourage them, but it further increases their persistent energy. They have an aptitude for the exact sciences, philosophy and mathematics, but their lack of imagination and inability to idealism make them insensitive to art, unless the latter relates to craft. They are predisposed to inventing machines and are very skilled in mechanics. If sometimes they show a penchant for the fine arts, it is always expressed in a real direction. They have architectural abilities, love to build, and their style is distinguished by rigor, solidity and even some simplicity, which is their characteristic feature. Under other conditions, they will apply their intellectual abilities to the sciences related to agriculture. Their skepticism and doubt lead them to materialism; they are too rational to be believers; but since faith enlightens their soul, then their religion is based on unshakable foundations with a touch of asceticism and severity.

Rice. 10. Quadrangular face type

This type is often found among monks who strictly carry out their strict rules of monastic life, and these individuals are for the most part “converts.” The predominant characteristics of this type are a love of property and a strong tendency towards stinginess. Ideas of method and order dominate their minds. Egoists by nature, they have neither sensitivity, nor compassion, nor condescension and are more fair than generous. Their courtesy is mainly based on calculation.

Their head controls their heart, and they are little accessible to the feeling of love. They are distinguished by violent passions and an energetic desire to satisfy their animal impulses - these are characteristic signs of their love. They are ambitious and often waste their energy in the pursuit of wealth, but they never languish in love.

They are unsociable and easily tolerate loneliness; however, they value family life, they have a special love for their children, sometimes even reaching the point of weakness, especially if this type is not distinguished by an excessive skeletal system and, moreover, is sanguine. This type with a predominant skeletal system is an indicator of durability. A child of this type from a very early age must be inculcated with the rules of strict morality and religion, so that he can subsequently master the innate tendency to crime and dishonorable acts. To guide and tame such a nature, a firm hand and a tempered character are needed.

Persons of the quadrangular type in the lower classes of society are distinguished by their rudeness, harshness, severity, ignorance, materialism, godlessness and cynicism; For them, physical strength replaces the sense of justice - they bow only to brute force. Their wild instincts and hidden cruelty under the influence of passion, hatred or greed can even push them to murder. Therefore, in the interests of society, it is necessary that individuals of this type should be strictly inculcated from childhood with religious feelings and the rules of strict morality.

As for established people, there is little hope for their re-education, and therefore one should at least take advantage of their self-interested instincts by establishing auxiliary funds that would supply them with funds for the development of industry, and thereby enable them to honestly satisfy their inclination to acquire. And ennobling work will lead them to correction.

Triangular face type

The forehead is high and wide, prominent cheekbones, a thin nose, deep-set eyes and a small, pointed chin. The face is considered bony because there is little soft tissue between the cheekbones and chin. This type indicates a strange and whimsical character, without consistency and stability, with capricious energy, expressed in outbursts and impulses. Individuals of this type act more on the impulse of the eccentricity of a sudden whim than under the influence of reflection, hastening to carry out their projects without prior thorough discussion. Calmness and patience when discussing their projects are in sharp contrast to the fervor they bring to their practical implementation. They are characterized by caution, cunning, deceit, and they are clever tellers of their invented stories. Gifted with a sharp mind, they are very resourceful in objections; They are mockers, scoffers, bullies, jokers, but their gaiety is superficial and deceptive, since their soul is tormented by strong melancholy. In addition, they are often troubled by inner sadness, spiritual emptiness and deep disappointment. Gusts of energy and enthusiasm are replaced by a rapid general breakdown. Their love for the miraculous often struggles with a tendency to doubt and skepticism, and religiosity with materialism.

Rice. 11. Triangular face type

Ardent preachers of the principles they have learned, they fight with bitterness against their opponents, and there are no sacrifices that they would not make in favor of the idea they defend. Their spirit of contradiction and stubbornness is directly proportional to the number of obstacles encountered to achieving their intentions. Their imagination far exceeds their common sense, so that when listening, they may be mistaken for something other than what they really are.

Stronger in theory than in practice, they tend to act on preconceived ideas. They have no lack of insight, and their minds are characterized by feverish activity. Their mixed mental abilities are very diverse and often contradictory: for example, the feeling of poetry and art coexists with philosophy; they are dreamers, and thinkers, and idealists, and realists. Their systematic and inventive mind makes them also capable of mathematical sciences, and at the same time they are gifted with a paradoxical mind and easily delve into utopia. They are very prone to pretense, deception and lies. They must combat a strong tendency towards hypocrisy. By nature they have a predisposition to theft, and if from childhood they are not stopped from this fatal inclination, it can subsequently turn into a shameful passion. Being a rebellious nature, they cannot tolerate any power over themselves; fans of freedom, they are ready to do everything in the world to maintain their independence, and they look at slavery as the greatest evil. They are suspicious and tyrannical in their affections, and love for them is the true source of endless suffering, worries, grief and deception. They love to travel and enjoy an adventurous life; tend to seek happiness in distant and dangerous wanderings. More courageous and more dexterous than happy in their enterprises, they only acquire their wealth with difficulty and with even greater difficulty retain it. They are very prone to risky ventures and gambling. The strangeness and irritability of their character makes them very unhappy, as well as those with whom they live. Their friendships are often upset due to quarrels, pettiness and pickiness. Their mania to criticize everything and mock others gives them many enemies. They are capable of insults, and their bullying often leads them to serious and unpleasant consequences. Their entry into any society is usually accompanied by various lawsuits, in which they even saw failure in advance.

This type includes the face of Walter Mitty, a dreamer, a man prone to reflection.

In positive cases, such people more often turn to science, philosophy or art. In the negative, they can become spies, traitors or shameless businessmen. People with triangular heads can become the scum of society. They always become the instigators of protests and demonstrations, and sometimes the fanatical leaders of an unpopular cause. Having failed, such people retreat and become hermits.

Round face type

Round-type people are distinguished by great initiative and energy of action. Constantly acting and producing is the mainspring of their individuality. Hot-tempered and angry, they suffer from a complete lack of composure. Active people who quickly implement their plans and projects as soon as they are born. The ardor in carrying out their work prevents them from achieving the intended goal, and they involuntarily waste both their energy and their feverish activity. Their success is always guaranteed where courage and speed of action are required. Their mind is quick and easy to grasp, but the liveliness with which they rush to express their thoughts forces them to speak out before they could understand them. Their thinking is at odds with their action, which is why they often have to repent of their actions. Their judgments, formulated with excessive haste, are often erroneous. Experience is acquired late, and even then insufficiently. Courage easily arises in their soul, but it is fleeting in nature and can reach the point of recklessness. They do not doubt the favorable outcome of their affairs, but once obstacles arise, they have neither the necessary dexterity to prevent them, nor the constancy to overcome them, and as a result they often experience disappointment.

Rice. 12. Round face type

Imprudence and imprudence, their usual qualities, cause them a lot of worries and put them in great difficulties. They do not have the ability for slow, calm and consistent action. Their brutal frankness harms them. Imperious in their approach, they do not tolerate any resistance. Inclined to subjugate others, they do not allow the possibility of domination over themselves.

Straightforward in business, they know how to follow a direct path to their intended goal. Although they know the value of money, they are at the same time capable of nobility, generosity and even extravagance. They are people of order in business, but they keep very little or even no order in their things, in everyday life, although they value it in the latter case. They steadfastly adhere to their rights, which they vigorously defend. Their practical, positive and real mind has nothing in common with either poetry or feeling.

Their artistic inclinations are limited to imitation rather than creativity, although they are inventive in handicrafts. They have the ability to wholesale trade and are skilled traveling salesmen. Although they love society, they are also rudely and thoughtlessly frank.

They love idle conversations, as long as they are varied, free and tinged with some gaiety. Their mental abilities are distinguished by sharpness and frivolity, they love jokes and puns, but little seriousness. They are big fans of comfort and good gastronomes, have a good appetite, love delicacies, are cheerful conversationalists, fans of Bacchus and free songs. Their natural qualities can lead to excesses. They have developed a sensitivity that they almost live by.

These people are great fans of love, but on the condition that it does not impose any chains or responsibilities on them. They are characterized by extremes in both love and hatred. Their cunning and diplomacy exist more in fantasy than in reality. While protecting their authority, they do not allow it to be violated, and therefore they are independent masters in their families. In their affairs they consult only with themselves.

With their strict grumpiness, they know how to instill fear and obedience. They have pride and vanity, they cannot tolerate either objections or reprimands. Their usual scrupulousness irritates them at the slightest offense. In fact, they are more sensitive than they seem, they are easily amenable to courtesy and affection. Their violent anger often reaches the point of rage. They have poor self-control and easily become slaves to their ardent passions, which can lead them to sad consequences; and therefore they must be careful in their actions.

Oval face type

Individuals of the oval type have extreme mobility and highly developed impressionability. The flexibility of their nature lacks the necessary counterforce. They cannot resist their individual aspirations.

They live in constant instability, constantly changing their ideas, desires and tastes. Capricious to the point of excess, with insatiable desires, they cannot be completely satisfied with anything. These desires replace each other so quickly that they enjoy them only in their imagination, which has very wide boundaries. They act mostly under the influence of a whim and according to the first impulse that comes into their head, never caring about the consequences of their actions.

Rice. 13. Oval face type

They start a lot and end almost nothing. Their quick understanding and their intellectual abilities enable them to do everything in general terms, but their fickleness and lack of perseverance prevent them from completing their tasks. They are very weak-willed, although they show some semblance of character. Tenacity and perseverance are unknown to them, but they are not as easy to control as they might seem, since they have considerable stubbornness and a spirit of resistance; in this way they escape from the yoke imposed on them by pretending that they are subject to it. Timid and fickle in everything, they easily perceive foreign impressions without retaining their essence.

Lack of reflection leads them to inconsistency. Lazy about physical labor and not particularly brave, they are very susceptible to fear. Good-natured in appearance, they are cunning and crafty. Independent to the extreme, they easily get along, but do not get attached.

Romantic in their affections and amorous by nature, they are at the same time very capricious and very flighty. They enjoy thoughts much more than feelings, and are adventurous.

Their minds are light, curious, fantastic, inventive in stories and superficial. They are dreamers, idealists, spiritualists, people of inspiration, enthusiasts, contemplators, mystics, lovers of the miraculous and at the same time believers and doubters, poets and artists. They have no order, and they understand nothing either in practical or theoretical life; therefore they are not businessmen. Quick to promise and to their word, they never keep them. A religious feeling is very developed in their souls, reaching the point of mysticism; their religious ideas are very exalted and marked by intolerance. They have an inclination towards religious systems; Among them you can often find the founders and reformers of religions. They are predisposed to all kinds of visions; They have remarkable abilities in the occult sciences, they are characterized by the spirit of divination and intuition, as well as extraordinary premonitions, mysterious suggestions and impulses of miraculous prophecy.

Their mentality is such that they guess rather than understand.

Trapezoidal face type

People with a trapezoidal face type are characterized by a very developed practical and common sense, which constitutes one of the most important strengths of their individuality. Positivism exclusively predominates among them; They lack imagination to such an extent that they can be neither artists, nor poets, nor idealists. They are realists in the precise sense of the word.

Rice. 14. Trapezoidal face type

People of this type have some subtlety of mind and great tact; but their narrow mental horizon does not go beyond the framework of the known and positive. Filled with vanity and excessive attention to their own person, during a conversation they listen to their speeches and love to pose, wanting to be noticed in order to be known as important people. Beneath their good nature they hide a lot of subtlety, cunning and resourcefulness.

They are conservative. Authoritative, people of calculation and exploitation. Outside of initiative and activity in business, they are careless, apathetic, lazy, weak-willed and indecisive. Any innovation confuses them and instills in them a kind of fear, since, first of all, their desires are to enjoy carefree tranquility.

Their egoism is covered with a mask, and if anyone wants to take advantage of their generosity, then they become downright impossible.

They fear bloodshed, respect human personality, and attach great importance to a sense of honor and public opinion.

Ambitious, with a strong desire for places of honor, they love to appear in public, to preside over meetings, but with absolute safety, since they value life too much. Having a cheerful disposition, they are sociable, love company, festivals, witticisms, performances and family pleasures.

They are mostly weak-willed fathers, but, however, they are not averse to sometimes showing their power over their children. They are big fans of comfort. Sensuality and appetite play an outstanding role among them, so that they become gourmets. Subtle wine connoisseurs and gastronomes. They have a highly developed sensual love, but as long as it does not bring them worries, since they are afraid of any slightest adversity; and they also diligently avoid all suffering and grief. Their usual virtues are a love of order and a correct lifestyle.

They are addicted to money. Their natural inclinations and fatal luck assist them in acquiring and accumulating wealth. They are adroit administrators and their individual organization makes them capable of managing banking and financial transactions.

However, no person will exactly fit the named types. Typically a face will present a combination of two or three or more types of features. Therefore, the essential task of a physiognomist is to thoroughly study and evaluate the face before making a conclusion regarding character or fate or a combination of both.

An experienced physiognomist can determine at a glance the shapes and areas of a subject's face, using the following practical method: first scan (skim) the main features - forehead, eyebrows, eyes, nose, cheekbones, chin and ears - and then make a general judgment about whether the traits correspond to any of the standard samples. In this case, an experienced physiognomist will take into account the person’s age, his maturity, as well as national characteristics. An individual, by the way, may well have traits of one type in middle age and a completely different type at the end of his life.

Form and nature of contours of geometric types

The shape and nature of the contours deserve special attention, since the contour brings significant changes to the individual type, whether it is round, flexible, quadrangular, knotty, angular, sharp, soft, flaccid, weakened, fleshy, muscular or bony.

The quadrilateral outline indicates energy, firmness, inflexibility and fortitude, stubbornness, positivity and calculation.

Angular - hardness, selfishness, rudeness, anger and even insensitivity; as well as stubbornness, tyranny, inexorability, persistence taken to extremes, the thirst for honor and the love of money.

Knotty - for impetuousness, insolence, anger, rage, harshness, ardent passions, strangeness and exciting activity, recklessness, courage, courage in action and lack of moderation.

Acute - for subtlety, cunning, pretense, lies, hypocrisy, irritability, mobility, initiative and inspiration.

Rice. 15. Knotty outline

Rice. 16. Sharp outline

Rice. 17. Round outline

A round and flexible outline indicates good nature, calmness, indecisiveness, frankness, directness, kindness and sometimes weakness of heart, sensuality, lack of tact, negligence, gluttony, quick but not deep passions, fleeting anger.

Soft, lethargic and weakened - to extreme weakness of will, passive and apathetic nature, extremely lazy, softness of feelings, lack of vital energy, inertia of passions, with the exception of the needs of the stomach.

But the shape and nature of the contours also have other special meanings, depending on the type of type with which they are connected.

Head examination

Physiognomy as the art of reading faces developed in the East in ancient times. Ancient China is considered the birthplace of eastern physiognomy. In the West, this art became widespread in Ancient Greece, but eastern physiognomy differs from western.

Chinese historical analyzes are filled with biographies of emperors, rulers, and sages. The actions of these people were correlated with the features of their appearance, mainly their faces.

Each feature on the face was given a very specific meaning. This is how the art of reading faces gradually developed.

Confucian moralists were considered the recognized masters of reading faces in the East.

The system of ethics that they preached involved instilling respect for parents, decency, devotion to the lord, loyalty to authorities, etc. The Confucians tried to detect the presence or absence of these qualities on their faces.

To this end, they persistently developed techniques for reading faces.

Over time, Chinese physiognomists raised the art of reading faces to a certain height and created special treatises that spread throughout various countries of the East. They were also brought to Japan. And although today it cannot be said that in Japan there is a general interest in physiognomy, its influence can be traced in painting, mask making, theater, and various spheres of communication.

Five Essential Traits

Of all the features that make up a person’s face, ancient Chinese physiognomists identified five most important for reading faces. These are eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth and ears. In ancient texts they are referred to as the Five Essential Traits. It is significant that after so many centuries these terms are still used in relation to these traits.

Each of them reveals something about the character. Each also controls some aspect of fate. For the physiognomist, the main problem is that these features tend to overlap each other in the sense that there is interdependence between all facial features and for a complete analysis it is necessary to take into account all these features and connections.

Once all these various features are appropriately understood, assessed and analyzed, the physiognomist moves on to other facial features such as the forehead, temples, cheekbones, jaws and wrinkles. Finally, he moves on to reading skin color, which is the most subtle and difficult part of the system to master.

Ancient physiognomists claim that if any of the Five Most Important Features has the highest dignity in form and quality, then this ensures at least ten years of a happy life. And if all five traits are of the highest merit, then the subject will enjoy happiness, prosperity and universal respect throughout his life. But it is unlikely that any living person is gifted with such a “perfect face.”

Ancient authors also stated that if any of these Five Essential Traits are poorly formed, then this indicates a kink or weakness in some trait of the individual. A wrong trait is a reflection of a wrong mind. Thus, the job of a physiognomist is to gain insight into the inner life of an individual by reading what his face reveals.

A fine, well-balanced and proportionate face is relatively easy to read. And accordingly, it is much more difficult to analyze ordinary faces, with irregular features, which most of us possess. Therefore, the study of irregular features occupies the largest part of the physiognomist's attention.

The Five Essential Traits will be discussed in the following chapters.

The Chinese system of face reading comes from specific positions on the face, each of which indicates a certain age and reveals some aspect of fate and character, mainly fate.

The physiognomist can go straight to this position to determine the fate of the subject or significant events that are about to happen in a certain year of life. If the subject tells the physiognomist that he is, for example, 37 years old, then the physiognomist should first of all consider position 37 - the pupil of the left eye.

In practice, the physiognomist is guided by a certain scheme. It will take some time to comprehend the meaning of the various positions. However, it is enough to remember only the main ones well. These basic ones cover the age range from 20 to 70 years, i.e. positions from 20 to 70, which constitute the most important years in a person’s life.

Rice. 26. System of positions: a – Chinese and b – Japanese physiognomic schools

There are several schools of Chinese physiognomy, each with its own system of positions. One school, for example, divides a face into 100 positions, another into 130. The system with 100 positions is the most widespread. It is time-tested and accurate. In addition, in order to simplify the system, where possible, we have tried to avoid the use of ancient technical terms, replete with literary allusions that could scare the reader, and in other cases be simply untranslatable.

The system of positions we have described was developed many centuries ago and was given in ancient texts. The most important aspect of physiognomy is the possibility of its practical application. If a system has worked well for thousands of years, then this is a significant argument to follow it now.

Looking at the diagram (Fig. 26), we will see that there are 99 positions indicated on it. Position 100 is not applied because it controls both the chin and jaw areas. As a general rule, it should be remembered that the wider the jaw and the more protruded the chin, the greater the chance of an individual to live to a hundred years or more.

The central part of the diagram is outlined by a dotted line drawn on both sides of the face and going around the chin. The area outside the dotted line covers the left and right profile of the face, as well as the bottom of the chin.

And the next thing. The Chinese system for determining a person's age differs from that accepted in the West. In China, for example, it is believed that a person is one year old at the time of his birth. In the West, a person still has to live a whole year before he reaches his birthday.

This section applies the Chinese system. Therefore, the reader is cautioned to subtract one year from each item number to convert it to the Western system. Thus, a person aged 37 years in the Chinese system in the Western system would be 36 years old, and a person 37 years old in the Western system would be 38 years old in the Chinese system. In the diagram, position 37 refers to age 37 according to the Chinese system.

However, in terms of physiognomy, the difference can be neglected. Such a difference will have a certain meaning with a more in-depth study of “internal energy”, “seasonal changes”, skin coloring and so on, that is, everything that is included in the esoteric theories of the “Five Elements” and “I Ching”. All this is beyond the scope of this book.

Physiognomy in Chinese is more of an art form than an exact science. Physiognomy takes this into account, recognizing that what, for example, is reflected in position 48, can follow from position 47 and can also continue to position 49. The accuracy of the analysis largely depends on the experience of the physiognomist.

However, the two numbers are usually given together, especially in the chapter on "Face Analysis", in order to remind the reader of the difference, whatever that difference may be.

As already mentioned, a beginner in face reading should only become familiar with the main positions (see Figure 26). There are only 13 of them. They are located in the middle of the face from top to bottom (positions 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 41, 44, 45, 51, 60, 70 and 71). In Chinese treatises these thirteen are known as "special positions" because they divide the face into two equal parts. If all positions on this imaginary line are in balance and proportion with other facial features, then it is most likely that such a person will have a good life from birth to death. The opposite will be true if the features in these positions are irregular and out of balance and proportion. A quick glance at the special positions will provide the physiognomist with basic material, as it were, and give him a solid basis for further analysis.

This does not mean that only specific positions are important. In fact, the positions associated with the Five Life Traits - eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth and ears - are, as we will see, considered even more important, especially in the study of personality and character. Let us first examine the special positions.

POSITION 16 often reflects the individual's connection to parents, especially on the paternal side. An uneven, stained surface in this area indicates unloving parents and, possibly, an anxious childhood. A dark stripe in this area, especially if it extends to position 28, predicts impending misfortune. Discoloration of the skin in this area, which lasts for a long time, is a sure sign of failure and the failure of all aspirations.

POSITION 19 reflects the fate and character inherited from the mother's side. If the skin color in the area of ​​position 19 is radiant, without any dark or dull tint, then this indicates that the individual is likely to receive help from a high-ranking person. As a matter of fact, any radiant skin color, without a dark touch, is considered by physiognomists as a good omen. A bluish color in this position indicates unpleasant surprises. A yellow-red hue without shine is a sign of impending misfortune.

POSITION 22 relates to a person’s personal affairs. Combined with positions 19 and 25, it forms an area known as the "Place of Honors". These positions indicate prospects for obtaining or maintaining official positions, especially in government. The radiant, reddish-yellow hue in this area is a very favorable coloring, a sign that the individual will either get a good job or will soon receive a promotion. Dark or dull skin color in this area is a sign that the individual's position is under threat.

POSITION 25 is related to the current affairs of a person, and is also associated with prospects for the future. For a happy outcome, this area must be smooth and complete and without defects. Black moles mean a lack of patience, and hence repeated failures. Traces of scars on tissue or skin defects indicate trouble. If the surface around position 25 is sunken and dark, then this indicates a person of low intelligence. In short, if this attitude is complete and radiant, then this person is destined to arrange his life early and achieve brilliant success.

POSITION 28, OR "STAMP PLACE," is perhaps the most significant of all the thirteen special positions. The archaic term "Place of Brand" means that this position determines an individual's ability to achieve high social status and social prosperity.

The physiognomist should examine this area with great care. Is it wide or narrow? Is it sufficiently clean and free from any defects? Doesn't the flesh rise up? Is the bone structure well formed?

If the area separating the eyebrows is wide – about 3.5–3.7 – this is considered a good sign. If this area is fleshy and marked with deep vertical grooves, up to four, this indicates a person of enormous vitality. By great vitality, the ancient texts meant great sensuality. In people with square or round faces, fleshiness and four or more vertical furrows indicate a high degree of both physical and mental maturity. Such people are quite common among men, but very rare among women. For women, this means strong will, independence, and desire for a career.

Defects or distortions in position 28 indicate that the individual is unlikely to succeed in what he sets out to do. For a woman, this means that she is unlikely to find a suitable match, no matter how persistently she strives for this.

An individual with smooth skin in this area, either male or female, has a feminine nature. Such women are good housewives, and in the case of men, this indicates artistic talent.

If the flesh in the area of ​​position 28 is well defined and slightly “raised,” especially on thin faces, then this indicates the presence of outstanding mental abilities. The term "elevated" refers to a one-quarter to one-half inch swelling of the tissues resulting from internal causes. These raised areas, sometimes called “bumps,” may also appear around the temples. In full sunlight it may be difficult to detect raised flesh and it is therefore advisable to perform the analysis under controlled lighting.

Physiognomists attribute the phenomenon of “bumps” to internal energy and interpret them as an unmistakable sign of a change in the fate of an individual. "Lumps" also indicate a person's maturity and logical abilities, and therefore they have a strong influence on success and failure in life. Most often, they begin to appear in this area at the age of thirty.

The physiognomist must also determine the color of the skin in this area. According to ancient texts, blackish color indicates gastric diseases; bluish – for kidneys; reddish – for heart disease. A black mole in this place means a chronic illness. The area between positions 18 and 15 is also known as the “Luck Corridor”. If the surface of this area is concave or uneven, then this person is unlikely to achieve his intended goal in life.

POSITION 41, or “FOOT OF THE MOUNTAIN,” determines a person’s destiny in relation to marriage and family. If this position shows concavity and is marked by horizontal lines, then this is a sign of marital troubles. If the eyebrows creep over the eyes and the bridge of the nose deviates to one side, this indicates further disasters, ranging from serious illness to prison and death in the middle years of life. In such cases, if the other vital features are balanced and proportionate, and the complexion is light and the voice clear, then the distress will be noticeably mitigated.

POSITION 44 is associated with the middle years of life. A wrinkle in this area indicates a lack of luck. A darkish color, even faint, indicates a serious illness in the family. A mole in this place portends complications with the opposite sex.

POSITION 45 – if there is no fracture in the bone structure and the color of the skin is shiny and reddish, then this indicates a happy fate. A fracture or dull color indicates otherwise.

POSITION 48 reflects the active years in a person's life. This position should be fleshy, well rounded and healthy looking, preferably light red in color. Good shape without healthy skin color means frustration and/or failure. Eeliness and other defects in this area indicate financial failure.

POSITION 51, or AVERAGE PERSON, determines the probability of having offspring. If the philtrum is not straight and central to the upper lip, the individual will die without leaving offspring.

POSITION 60 in balance and proportion in a closed position indicates a strong will.

If both corners of the mouth are closed upward, then this is a sign of financial and commercial success. If the mouth opens and closes without clumsiness, then this signifies an expansive mind and varied tastes. Glossy red lips bode well for the future.

POSITION 70 is determined mainly by color. If it is dark, then the person should avoid traveling. If the coloring is red, white or blue and lacks shine, then the individual may be the victim of foul play.

POSITION 71 relates to hard work and treachery. If the tip of the chin is pointed, then this speaks of endless labor and poverty. If the chin is pointed and deviates to one side, then this indicates that such a person will respond to kindness with betrayal. A brilliant reddish color predicts a happy event. Cloudy red eye color indicates misfortune associated with fire. Other positions on the diagram related to the Five Essential Traits will be discussed in subsequent chapters.

It is very important to emphasize once again that the face reader must weigh, analyze, correlate the data collected from reading each position before drawing a conclusion regarding the fate and character of the individual. Reading a single trait cannot reveal the complete story of an individual.

Types of people in European physiognomy

European physiognomy divides people into seven planetary types. Despite all the conventionality of this symbolism, it can be accepted as basic.

Pure type "Mars"

Mars is the ancient Roman god, warlike and courageous, corresponding to the ancient Greek Ares. The head of Mars type people, like their body, is square in shape. The skull has strong, thick bone and a wide horizontal section. Anatomists call this form brachycephalic, i.e. short-headed. The brachycephalic skull of the Martian type, as well as the terrestrial one, will create the so-called hard heads and differs from the dolichocephalic skull elongated from front to back, which the oval types have.

Martians' hair is usually brown. They are abundant if the Martian is not very arthritic. In the latter case they are rare or absent altogether: arthritic Martians are often bald. The Martian type forehead is usually small due to the fact that the hair begins to grow low above it; such a forehead is less intellectualized than a forehead, for example, of the solar type. The frontal bones, protruding forward, are moderately developed. The more developed they are, the more intelligent the Martian type.

The brow arches of the Martian type - one of the very significant features - protrude powerfully forward. They are overgrown with thick, coarse eyebrows, forming a strong line above the eyes, which can be represented schematically as a horizontal line. This arrangement of the brow arches and eyebrows of Martians reveals the main dominant feature of their psyche - energy.

The more energy the Martian has, the lower he brings his eyebrows together and the closer he moves one eyebrow to the other, so that one or two vertical lines are formed between them. Persistent Martians frown and knit their eyebrows so tightly that they can see them under their eyes as one line. The Martians' gaze is focused, firm, bold, direct, honest and insightful.

The cheekbones of the face are wide. The nose is strong and usually straight. A straight nose type is often complemented by a straight forehead. The nose of Martians is aquiline. The mouth is strong, large, lips are compressed. The artist schematized the Martian’s compressed lips without depicting the lower lip (see Fig. 22a). The Martian's lips also have a decisive line expressing energy (Fig. 22b).

The Martian's chin is short, quadrangular, protruding forward. It harmonizes perfectly with the highly developed lower jaw, with its convex corners.

Rice. 27. Schematic representation of a male (a) and female (b) “Mars” type face

Take a closer look at the drawings that represent a Martian and a Martian woman. What makes these two individuals special? Eyebrows and jaws. But do not rush to determine the Mars types of those whose eyebrows and jaws are not distinguished together.

Psychologically, the dominant feature of Martians is energy: it is expressed in the line of the eyebrows, pursed lips, square chin and protruding jaw angles. The more sharply these features are expressed, the more unyielding their will. The purest and most well-built type of Martian is capable of meeting the greatest dangers.

They are self-confident, complacent, optimistic, very proud and often arrogant. They speak loudly, clearly and clearly. They like to command and often flare up when someone does not share their views. They are proud and violent, but their anger is short-lived. Intelligent Martians (those with larger foreheads than others) are generous and love the truth. They tend to protect the weak. They are terrible when they stand up to the enemy, they fight honestly and never attack an unarmed enemy. They are distinguished by knightly courage. True to their word, to the Fatherland, honest in their deeds.

They make good companions, warriors, faithful to their duty, respectable heads of the family. Enormous energy encourages them to carnal love. They look at the latter as a sacred duty or as a medicine that must be swallowed as quickly as possible. In any case, sentimental motives do not play a major role with them: their driving force is duty. They prefer intense work to contemplative life and art. Distrustful by nature, they are often materialists, which does not, however, prevent them from sometimes showing the most superstitious fanaticism.

Pure type "Earth"

Earthly types, like Martian ones, belong to the square morphological type: their skull is brachycephalic, that is, they are broad-headed. Their hair is thick and forms a low forehead, which is very similar to the forehead of a Martian, but the latter is more intelligent. He has the same wrinkles, which speak of the same dominant features.

Eyebrows are more shaggy and prominent. The eyes are small and set deeper. The cheekbones are large. The nose is wider and slightly upturned at the end. Compare the noses of the terrestrial types, which Bailly drew, with the noses of the solar and mercurial types, and you will understand the psychological difference. The mouth of Earth types is compressed, the lips are irregular, poorly defined and often quite thick.

The chin is short and square, protruding forward. The neck is strongly muscled, the head is pulled into the shoulders.

Rice. 28. Schematic representation of the male (a) and female (b) type “Earth”

Even a quick glance at Fig. 28 ( A And b) will show you that these typical earth types (both male and female) are people of weak intellect but extremely energetic. Among the earthly types there are more intelligent ones than those shown here. Compare the forehead and eyebrows of square types - Mars, Earth (Figures 27 and 28), with the forehead and eyebrows of oval types - Mercury, Sun, Venus (Figures 29, 30, 31), and you will understand that the psychological dominant of square types is energy , and oval - mind.

So, the main psychological feature of earthly types, as well as Martian ones, is will. They use it in the realm of matter. These types produce tireless manual workers, thrifty but often dirty, who eat a lot and drink a lot. They prefer simple food to elegant treats, strong drinks to clean water, and are strongly attached to their native land, to their home. Persistence in work is unimaginable, their ideas are stable, but limited and deprived of the opportunity to develop and improve. Stubborn to the point of obstinacy. Loyal to their friends and promises.

Like the Martian types, they are angry, but their anger flares up more slowly. When their anger boils, it is terrible. Like Martian types, they feel attracted to carnal love, but do not know how to choose lovers for themselves. In love they have a simple taste and do not really choose those to whom they give themselves. You will not find any artistic flair, intuition, or enthusiasm among them. They observe soberly and coldly, they see the benefits and benefits that can be derived from things, and not their beauty.

Women of this type are workers. They command with soul and authority. They do not submit to their lovers or husbands. Women are treated with contempt, men are treated as their own. Carnally voluptuous. They are good mothers, but still punish their children severely if they make any mistake.

Earth types succeed in life thanks to work. Their perseverance in work always provides them with any place in the sun. The most intelligent earthly types can also become scientists. The latter succeed only in the field of exact and deductive sciences.

Slow and difficult to rise, strong on their feet, awkward in their gestures, they avoid the “light”, prefer the forest to the theater, have few friends, and do not know how to show themselves. They don't know polished nails.

The lower earthly types are extremely rude and cruel, treat their loved ones and animals poorly, and display sadistic tendencies.

Pure type "Mercury"

Mars and Earth are square types, have a wide brachycephalic skull, and Mercury, like other oval types, has a skull that is elongated from front to back, that is, dolichocephalic. His hair is thin, thick, light brown or chestnut in color. The forehead is straight, larger than the forehead of the Mars or Earth types. Calm Mercurians have a smooth forehead, while nervous ones have wrinkles.

Mercurians lack vertical lines on the forehead, at the base of the nose. This is because they are not used to straining their attention and making volitional efforts. Their eyebrows are arched, and not horizontal, like those of Mars and Earth types. The more arched the eyebrows, the weaker the control of will of the Mercurians. The eyes of the Mercurian type are large, lively, intelligent, observant. In good Mercurians, they open wide and look straight. But in the evil and crafty, they lengthen and become almond-shaped. Those Mercury types that you should be wary of have the pupil half-opened under the upper eyelid. Forty-year-old women need to beware of younger Mercurians, among whom there are many dancers with similar eyes.

The nose of Mercurians is straight and thin at the bottom. The owner of the evil and sly look that we mentioned above usually has a sharp nose. It is impossible to establish any similarity between the noses of the Earth and Mars types, on the one hand, and the Mercury type, on the other. Only a comparative look at the drawings is enough to confirm this fact.

Mercurians' lips are thin and very symmetrical. The upper lip is often very thin. Sometimes it is almost faintly outlined. Such lips, which very often correspond to almond-shaped eyes and a very pointed nose (see Fig. 29 a and b), are always a sign of extreme rationality. They mean weak sensitivity, but strong self-control and cold prudence in all cases of life.

A Mercurian of the same type gives herself away, thinking more about the benefits that may follow than about the physical pleasure that she can receive. The Martian connects herself with some man for the sake of the victory that she can win over him. The earthly and Venusian types of women give themselves over with all their feelings for the very satisfaction of the flesh. The Mercurian offers herself while simultaneously considering what the consequences and benefits will be.

Rice. 29. Schematic representation of the male (a) and female (b) Mercury type

The chin of Mercurians is narrow, elongated, even too elongated (among neuropathic Mercurians). The less refined the chin, the more energy there is in it. Energetic Mercurians are rare. Signs of their energy are eyebrows that converge almost in a horizontal line, compressed lips and a short chin. There are also weak-willed Mercurians - they have restless, excited movements, nervous habits.

The dominant psychological trait of Mercurians is not energy, as with square types, but a quick mind. Mercurians have many ideas, often even a lot, and the most diverse ones. They understand and assimilate quickly and immediately adapt to the conditions and environment; they have an amazing gift for quickly grasping things on the fly, since they are susceptible to influence and suggestion.

You will meet them in all branches of human activity: politics, art, trade, science. They have time wherever they need to think more than do. They are easy to impress, especially in the eyes of superficial people. Rarely have deep knowledge. Their ideas, if developed, could be implemented more often. But they replace one idea with another before the first has produced results.

The Mercuryian gives the idea, the Martian and the Saturnian implement it in practice.

Pure type "Sun"

The skull of solar types, like those of Mercurian types, is dolichocephalic, i.e. long-headed. The face is oval. This oval is very clean and beautiful. The hair is beautiful, light brown or brown, gracefully covering the head and slightly curly. Solar type temples are usually bare. They are often bald - to a greater or lesser extent (see Fig. 30).

A solar type face radiates balance, harmony and calm strength. The forehead is large and superbly intellectual. It is convex both across and in length, from top to bottom: the frontal bones, protruding upward, are well developed. This one is in stark contrast to the flat foreheads of Mars, Earth and Mercury. It is most similar to the forehead of a Venusian: there is not a single wrinkle that would betray overwork, nervousness and effort, the skin is surprisingly smooth.

Martian and Earth types frown their foreheads, expressing desire. The sun desires completely naturally, without wincing or frowning - so complete is its autocracy. The sunny forehead is the most beautiful of all types.

Rice. 30. Male (a) and female (b) “Sun” type

Aristocratically elegant, but quite thick eyebrows express energy even in a calm state. There is no need for them to frown (see Figure 30). The eyes are large, open, with beautiful eyelashes. They look directly, honestly, without threat, without coercive force, but not weakly either, they look at you bewitchingly. The iris, almost completely covered by the eyelids, is dotted with gold spots. The sunny type nose harmonizes well with his convex forehead - it is slightly “pointed” and thin at the top.

The lips are beautiful: not very big and not very small. The upper lip is well defined (very different from the straight and flat upper lip of Mercury). The lower lip is proportional to the upper. The folds at the tips of the lips do not express either contempt, as is often the case with Mercurians, or pessimism (as with Saturnians), or effort (as with Mars and Earth). They talk about dignity, self-control, calmness, kindness. A sunny smile is sober and kind.

The chin confirms and emphasizes the balance expressed by the lips: it is not as short and square as in the Martian and Earth types, and not as elongated as in the Mercurian. Although this chin is square, it is also part of an oval face.

Solar types are surprisingly calm and strong. The word that best expresses their state of mind is cloudless brightness. The solar type radiates complete self-control, happiness, and strength. He evokes admiration mixed with fear among those around him.

Solar type is an expression of harmony. He could use his energy, but he saves it. He represents strength at rest, self-confident strength, which does not manifest itself unnecessarily, because it knows that at the first call it will immediately, in one leap, rise to its feet, ready to flash like lightning.

In the eyes of the solar type one can read an unshakable energy associated with a captivating meekness. With just one glance, these eyes amaze or heal.

The speech of the solar type is sonorous and trembling with a clear timbre. She knows how to conquer, throw thunder, and forgive. Solar types can become students in all branches of human knowledge. Large organizers, industrialists, bankers, and executives are born among people of the solar type. Their superiority over others is the reason why they find it difficult to find a friend in love. The sunny type of man suffers from female pettiness. A woman of the sunny type, noble, with a developed mind, searches in vain for a man who will surpass her.

Pure type "Venus"

The skull and face of Venusians have in their main features the same structure as other oval types. Their hair is thick and beautiful. They are not straight, like those of Mercurians, and do not curl in large waves, like those of the Solar type, they are fluffy.

The forehead of Venus is not as developed as the forehead of the sun, but is similar to it. Like the sunny type, he is calm, without wrinkles. But while the forehead of the solar type remains calm due to the complete self-control of its owner, the forehead of the Venusian remains impassive for its own sake, as well as for fear of old age. The eyebrows are exquisite, quite thick and arched.

They more often rise to a position of passive contemplation than to descend to a position of will.

The physiognomist distinguishes between Martian and terrestrial types a square jaw and low arched eyebrows. Mercurians have a sly look and a smile that illuminates their thin and pointed nose. The solar type has a majestic forehead and a magnetic gaze. Venusians have the size of their eyes and their charming, captivating tenderness.

Rice. 31. Schematic representation of the male (a) and female (b) “Venus” type

The eyes of Venusians do not express any furious energy, no guile, no mental superiority; they express love (see Fig. 31).

A harmonious curtain of eyelashes further enhances the charm that these eyes exude. Venus's gaze expresses subtle sensitivity and developed intuition.

Mars, Earth and the Sun judge deductively, Mercury and Venus inductively - they guess. The nose of Venusians is often coquettishly turned up, slightly, like some lunar types. The flaring nostrils highlight the sensitivity that radiates from their eyes. The lips are plump and well defined. The vertical line that runs from the nose to the lip is gracefully deepened.

The lips of a Venusian woman have nothing rational, they are sensitive. They complement what the eyes and nose say. The smile that adorns her is an example of a woman's smile. She has an amazing charm. The face is completed by a rounded chin, the middle of which is sometimes decorated with a small, pleasant dimple.

Venus is a female type. Her strength is not in muscles, not in will: it lies in her intuition. Men of the Venusian type are soft, sensitive, impressionable, gentle, and modest. They love to be caressed, well-groomed, and well received. Martian and solar types want to look strong, Mercurians want to look smart, Jupiterians want to look important and serious, and Venusians want to look beautiful.

They are easy to laugh and cry. This is true and easily explained, given their weak mental control.

These are happy people - nature seems to please itself by showering them with its gifts, and usually the success they have exceeds their merits. This is true especially for women - they succeed more due to their charm than their business skills.

Venusians, male or female, are faithful in friendship, but not always faithful in love. They fall in love easily and strongly, but their passions are like fire from straw. They are afraid of struggle, effort, overwork.

Venusians are not like the Martians who love activity, nor the earthly type who loves their estate, nor the Jupiterians who love their shops: they love their boudoir, decorated with mirrors and creams.

A Venusian is a handsome man who wants to please women more with the sophistication of his clothes and manners than with the power of his mind. The Venusian has the beautiful face of a coquette, trembling with love. People fall in love with such women only because of their beauty.

Pure type "Jupiter"

Let us remember that Jupiterians are square or oval types, deformed due to a sedentary life. If the Martian, terrestrial, Mercurian, solar and Venusian types begin to get fat, if the square and oval become rounded, this means the type is Jupiterized.

This is why Jupiterians are very different from one another: they only have in common the leading features of their type.

To distinguish between Jupiterians, you need to be able to recognize what type they come from.

Jupiterians are usually bald, to a greater or lesser extent, and suffer from arthritis to one degree or another. Their forehead is almost without wrinkles, because they live a free life. Their eyebrows are arched. The eyes are big, open, sincere, honest. The nose is large, the lower part is fleshy.

Martian, terrestrial, Mercurian, solar, Venusian types of noses, thickening in the lower part, form the Jupiterian type of nose. However, most often the Jovian nose comes from the straight nose type. The lips of Jupiterians are large, fleshy, and poorly defined. They close poorly. The lower lip is slightly drooping. A characteristic feature of a Jupiterian smile is good nature.

Jupiter doesn't like to shave much; hair gives him importance. If the Martian wears a short and bristly mustache, the Earth type leaves it growing like bushes, the Mercurian and Solar types like to go clean-shaven, and the Venusians wear a thin mustache, the Jovian type leaves it long, covering at least the upper lip. The Jupiterian's beard is thick and majestic. The Jupiterian - and she has a mustache and a beard (see Fig. 32).

Rice. 32. Face type of a man (a) and a woman (b) of the Jupiter type

Neither a Mercurian nor a Venusian would allow hair on their face. But they are great for a Jupiterian because they give her an important look.

The Jupiterian beard is wide and thick. Jupiterians are created to dominate. A beautiful appearance, a lush beard, a big belly, and the good nature that emanates from them prepare them for the role of comforters and reconciliators.

The main secretary, the active person on whom everything depends, can be the Martian, solar or Jupiterian types. But a person who represents any society or association can only be a Jupiterian. Leaders of large states and republics, as a rule, are people of the Jupiterian type or with strongly expressed Jupiterian character traits.

The figure shows a leader, a typical Jupiterian. His forehead is low. Strongly rounded eyebrows and eyes enhance good nature, turning it into humility. A very large lower part of the nose and fleshy lips show an excessive appetite for food and drink, greater than that of an ordinary Jupiterian. This person seems to prefer a glass of wine to a cup of water.

The other Jupiterian type is much more intelligent. Some Jupiterians, as we have already said, are perfectly suited to the role of accountant of a large trading house. There her abilities can be revealed: methodicality, love of order, honesty.

Jupiterians are cheerful and optimistic people by nature. They prefer a prosperous life, delicious food, and love to while away the evenings with family and friends. As a rule, they are good spouses, serious and peaceful, affectionate and helpful, but not flirtatious.

Regarding the Jupiterians, you need to know what type they come from: if they are Martian or terrestrial, then they are more energetic than those who descended from the Mercury type. If, for example, a Jupiterian leader comes from a Mercury type, then he uses the qualities of Mercury as a shield, escaping difficult situations.

Pure type "Moon"

Lunar types have a round skull and face. Hair is light brown, ash or brown. They are usually smooth in men and smooth or curly in women. The forehead is round and convex. The eyebrows are arched. This is a sign that indicates that among lunar types, surprise is not so much a temporary, transitory property, but rather a morphological feature of them. The eyes, like the eyebrows, also express surprise: they are large, gentle, dreamy, kind. In lower lunar types they are stupid.

The nose is usually widened downwards and turned up. It is similar to the Venusian one, but wider. The lips are also like those of a Venusian, but not as beautiful. The Lunar type is not free from carnal appetites, but they have more reason than the Venusian type. The chin is round, thick, soft - it lacks energy.

Rice. 33. Pure male (a) and female (b) “Moon” type

Moon types are people of imagination and impressionable natures. They are meek, quiet, dreamy, fearful, and love peace. Sociable, inquisitive with others, cheerful, like children. Lunar types are not created for a brutal struggle in life - they are contemplative natures.

Usually they are officials and as such they are pleasant, disciplined, honest, and conscientious. They execute well but manage poorly because they lack determination.

A Moon type woman is charming. She smiles pleasantly and tries to please you, although she remains shy and reserved. Her gaze is full of poetry. He talks about those fabulous dreams with which her soul is full. Timid, often superstitious, she prefers to be near her husband all the time, perceiving him as a strong support. Religious by nature, she senses God in nature. She cares about beautiful music, beautiful paintings. She has strong intuition and a developed sense of harmony.

Quite cold in her feelings, she is voluptuous in her imagination. Mentally, she is very different from the Venusian, whom she sometimes resembles and with whom a beginner in physiognomy may confuse her. (For comparison, re-read what was said about the Venusian.)

People of the lower lunar type are lazy, deceitful, stupid, prone to cunning and gossip. Women of this type can lie to their husbands even when they are loved. Their innocence is apparent.

Pure lunar types have a purely lymphatic temperament. Their skin is very white and suffers from contact with the sun's rays. Their skin turns red from the sun, rather than darkening like other types. They cannot use sun healing as favorably as the Martian, solar, Mercury and earth types can. Homely by nature, they become fat and develop arthritis.

They also suffer from an enlarged stomach, so in the morning their tongue is white, and when they wake up they still feel tired. Lazy digestion and a large liver are another sign of this type. In youth, they are prone to toxic headaches and glandular diseases.

Pure type "Saturn"

As we have already said, Martian, terrestrial, Jupiterian, solar, Mercury types are sanguine natures with light ruddy skin. Lunar types are lymphatic, i.e. with pale skin. Venusian - lymphatic-sanguinistic.

Saturnian types differ sharply from the above in their bileness. Saturn marks yellowish skin. But it’s not just skin color that makes a Saturnian stand out. It is always immediately noticeable. If he enters your office or walks along the other side of the street, you should immediately recognize him: who he is, what he thinks, what he suffers from. All this is written in large letters on his appearance: in the matte color of his skin, in his black and thick hair, in his sad look, in the angularity of his lines, in the disappointment that emanates from his smile.

The face of a Saturnian is quadrangular. The forehead is quite intellectualized, but not in the same way as that of the solar type: it is not the frontal bones that protrude, but the anterolateral parts of the skull. This is a very characteristic structure. The skull seems to expand the upper part of the quadrangle, which represents the face of the Saturnian, and turns it into a trapezoid (Fig. 34a).

Hair often grows low above the forehead. Let us also repeat that they are black, even very black, abundant, thick and usually smooth and shiny. The Saturnian has to shave twice; If you shave in the morning, by the evening your chin becomes dark again, and this changes its appearance.

Rice. 34. Male (a) and female (b) Saturn face types

The Saturnian (Fig. 34b) has a dark mustache above her upper lip. The eyebrows of Saturnians are thick and black, with the angle turned upward. The eyes seem to follow their shape; they are triangular. In the Saturnian’s gaze one can read pessimism, mistrust, and exactingness. She peers deep into things and phenomena, inside herself.

The Saturnian's nose is a straight nose: usually wide at the root and tapering downward. The lips are thin, compressed, expressing bitter contempt. The chin is angular.

Mentally, Saturnians are serious, thoughtful, nervous, and sad. The Saturnian thinks and is bored. He is a nocturnal creature. At night he feels better and works easier. His complexion looks more welcoming in artificial light. Saturnian is more beautiful in the evening.

The Saturnian, with his weak muscles and narrow chest, does not know the pleasure of breathing freely and deeply pure air and basking naked in the sun. The sun and cold water hurt him. The brain dominates his life.

A large number of so-called rational types are Saturnians. They feel best when they are away from the world.

Their misanthropy finds refuge in laboratories, where they become one of the most caring, most industrious and modest scientists, in institutions where they diligently put their accounts in order - in a word, in all positions where seriousness, observation, and hard work are needed.

Mixed types

The eight types we have described are very rare. Almost all types are mixed, but it was still necessary to describe the pure types in more detail.

A physiognomist who knows pure types well can discern at a glance the dominant type in a person. This is the first thing he must do. After this, he must ask himself: “What is this dominant type combined with? Is he strengthened or weakened, has he gained or lost anything intellectually from this or that mixture?

Without a doubt, in order to correctly identify the components of any physiognomy, a student needs to work in the field of physiognomy for a long time and he will have to make mistakes more than once. You need to learn to reduce the face you are studying to a diagram, a monogram. We have had students who, at the beginning of their physiognomic practice, saw a square chin that was in fact round, or vigorous eyebrows that were essentially not so. Others called fair skin saturnian, and pure pink skin lymphatic.

Through constant practice, the physiognomist eventually acquires the ability to distinguish the components of a face. For example, it is always easy to find at least two components: one main, the other secondary. Very often three open. But since the study of triple types will take us very far and complicate the study, which, due to its novelty, should be simpler, we will limit ourselves to the study of the main double types.

To understand mixed types well and acquire the ability to quickly distinguish them in the faces of others, you must study more than just the text of this book. Afterwards you need to turn to the drawings - any image is imprinted in our memory much better than a thousand explanations.

If you master the drawings of eight simple types and monograms, then you will have the entire science of physiognomy in a potential state. And then there is nothing left but to compare, combine, combine. This is a very exciting job.

We especially recommend careful study of monograms: everything that is not clear can be schematized with several lines. It's really fun to draw mixed type monograms. We have chosen not to do this here to keep the presentation simple. We leave it to students to draw these monograms themselves, using the data available in the chapter “Mixed Types”, as well as the drawings attached to this chapter.

We name mixed types by their components. For example, the Sun-Mars is a face in which we discover the characteristic features of the solar and Martian types. We put the main, predominant type in first place. For example, if a person is predominantly of the Martian type, but also has signs of the solar type, then we call it Mars-Sun.

To quickly distinguish the mixed types of which we are speaking, and to save time, we recommend that the reader, after considering a drawing of any mixed type, turn to the drawings representing the pure types, even if the reader thinks he knows them well. This way he will immediately understand what elements the combination consists of.

Rice. 35. Mixed face type

So, for example, in Fig. 35 you see a mixed Sun-Mars type. Don't be lazy and take another look at the rice. 30, which represents the solar type, and Fig. 27, representing the Martian type.

First of all, we will study the four combinations of the Sun. After you have taken a quick and general look at the four clichés, turn to the pure solar type in Fig. 30a and b and pay attention to the protruding upper part of the face of a person of the solar type: his forehead and nose are where the Sun leaves its imprint most often. (Energetic Mars leaves its mark on the jaws, sensual Venus most often on the lips, and so on.)

Four foreheads, four noses - sunny. You probably already recognized the rest of the face by carefully examining the figure. 30 and using the table.

Check your diagnosis by taking another look at Mars, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter.

What happens when several types are combined? It’s very simple: positive and negative qualities are combined and complement each other.

If, for example, the Martian type is mixed with the Venusian type, then this person will be more sensitive and more sentimental than the pure Martian type, but more energetic than the pure Venusian type. In other words, his energy will be sensitive to certain influences of a sentimental nature. But his sentimentality will never have complete dominance over sober reason.

Don't you now think that it is very easy to imagine all possible combinations and fully guess their character? We give here some other most characteristic features of mixed types. The reader himself will add details to these characteristics, which we do not want to interfere with.

The Solar-Martian type combines energy with broad intellectual abilities. These two energetic types reinforce each other. The Sun intellectualizes Mars, expands its field of ideas and gives it amazing clarity and radiance. Sun-Mars is the most powerful and most impressive among human types. This is an example of fruitful activity that manifests itself in all areas of life. No dreams, no vague visions - only precise actions. Napoleon belongs to this type.

The Solar-Mercurian type is more intelligent, more noble. He is more energetic, more pleasant, calmer, less anxious than the pure Mercurian type. This is one of the most beautiful combinations.

The Solar-Mercurian type quickly understands things than the Solar-Martian type, assimilates them better, and is more flexible (Mercury). While Sun-Mars is the commander-in-chief, Sun-Mercury is the big banker or factory director.

The Solar-Venus type combines the intelligence of the Sun with the sensitivity of Venus. This is a gorgeous female type. A man of this type is an intelligent, loving, but often unfaithful companion. Satisfaction of appetites occupies a prominent place in his life. He, however, deceives women nobly.

The Sun-Jupiter combination creates leaders. People of this type do not have the intense activity of the pure solar type. These are those who gained success and “rested on their laurels.” Intellectually, Sun-Jupiter people are taller than pure Jupiterians and more energetic. People turn to them for advice because their advice is wise.

Turn to the pure Mercurial type, and then consider the four faces of this type. You will see the same sly look, long and thin nose, flat upper lip, sharp chin of the Mercurian.

The Mercury-Earth type is more intelligent than the pure earth type. This type produces revolutionaries: he has numerous ideas (Mercury), but is inclined to carry them out with violence (Earth) before these ideas are clarified and defined.

Many revolutionaries are Mercury-Earth types. Often they are also of the Moon-Earth type: flights of the lunar imagination then appear in their earthly energy.

Jupiter-Earth is a type of Bolshevik. Lenin belongs to this type.

The Mercury-Venus type is quicker to understand, more active and better assimilated than the corresponding pure types. The Mercury-Venus woman is intelligent and witty.

The French woman is a Mercury-Venus type who is artistic, sensitive by nature and loves to relax more than to work.

Mercury-Mars, like the Sun-Mars, connects intelligence with activity. But Mercury-Mars is more flexible, more artistic and subtle. Sometimes he is not as honest as Sun-Mars.

The Mercury-Saturn type will create those who are quick-witted (Mercury), melancholic, patient and conscientious (Saturn). Mercury gives Saturn a certain glow and gives him a smile from time to time.

Three commonly encountered combinations of the Moon are the Lunar-Mercurian, Lunar-Earth and Lunar-Venus types.

Moon-Mercury combines Mercurian intelligence with lunar imagination. Men of this type are less energetic. Women are sociable, witty, poetic and artistic.

“Moon-Earth” is an energetic, rude type (“Earth”), dreamy (“Moon”). He often gives, let us repeat again, a typical Bolshevik.

The Moon-Venus type as a woman is a beautiful doll. For a man, this combination is unfavorable because it does not correspond to achieving success in life.

The fourth type is Saturn-Mars. It brings together the sad energy of Saturn and the satisfied energy of Mars. But when Saturn-Mars leaves its mark on someone's face, then sadness dominates afterwards. The darker the skin of the Saturn-Mars type and the stronger the mournful note, the more the individual suffers from headaches and stomach ulcers. The lighter the skin, the stronger the qualities of Mars: joy and self-satisfaction. The Saturn-Mars combination creates people of action (Mars) who are busy with their future (Saturn).

The most common combination of Jupiter is the Jupiter-Mercurian type. Jupiter-Mercury people are more dexterous than pure Jupiterians and more respectable than pure Mercurians. This combination is found among bankers, those involved in large financial transactions. People of this type tend to succeed in life.

A few examples

We will limit ourselves to a brief analysis of eight well-known persons: Louis XIV, Napoleon, Dante Alighieri, Henry III and Danton.

Louis XIV is a wonderful sunny type. It is interesting to note that the voice of the people, ignorant of physiognomy, dubbed Louis XIV the “Sun King.” His forehead, covered with a wig, is quite prominent. Large eyes with beautiful eyelashes, a bold look - all these are typical signs of the sunny type. The Bourbon nose is Apollonian, the same as Napoleon's.

Delestre states: “All the great ambitious people who wanted to command others and keep them in their power, those who pursued one single goal, without despairing for a moment ... - they all had an aquiline nose.”

The typical: “You almost kept me waiting,” - Louis XIV, is written both in his gaze and in his chin. Indeed, solar types, like Martian and Mercury types, do not like to wait. But not from neurotic impatience, like the Mercurians, but because they value time: their minutes are counted.

The lower part of the king's face is Jupiterized: the neck is thick, the lower lip is large and slightly drooping. It expresses the sensuality and passion for exquisite dishes that prevailed under Louis XIV.

Napoleon's head was considered by Lavater as the ideal of the human head. The Emperor belongs to the Solar-Martian, predominantly solar type. Napoleon's forehead, at once Martian and sunny, is surprisingly calm and intelligent. The bony bulge that protrudes between the knitted eyebrows, further emphasizing it, shows enormous mental control. It explains the ease with which Napoleon could dictate three letters at once. The eyes are sunny, extremely magnetic, embracing everything with one glance, subordinating everything to their will. It is clear why the most experienced warriors of his army trembled under this gaze. A chin, square and round at the same time, speaks of a person who can reach the highest position in the world.

Dante Alighieri is a Saturnian. Small eyes that look for reasons and peer inside, a nose, contemptuously curved lips, a chin, a neck, shoulders, clothes and a hat - everything is Saturnian. Compare Dante's heavy hat with that of Henry III.

The Saturn mark on Dante's face explains the ideas that permeate his Divine Comedy. Dante delved into all spheres of human knowledge, he was a passionate and desperate fighter (remember his speeches against the Ghibellines, his exile).

Henry III is a typical Mercurian, intelligent but with bad instincts. His intelligence can be seen in his almost sunny forehead, and his bad instincts can be seen in his sidelong glance. It is enough to look at the eyes of Henry III to stop wondering why he gave the order to kill the Duke of Guise. But let's not forget that there are also excellent Mercurians who do not kill anyone.

Danton is an Earth-Moon type. Wild earthly energy, combined with the most beautiful lunar visions, was to make him one of the most brilliant types of revolutionaries, a living embodiment of the French people, capable of destroying everything for the sake of an idea and rising to the scaffold for it with a smile on their lips.

About facial expressions

Facial expression is a classic area of ​​study for the physiognomist. Not knowing her data means being susceptible to serious physiognomic errors. Often we happened to change, using the data of facial expressions, the diagnosis made by studying the forms.

Let's say you meet a morphologically beautiful person, of the Jupiterian type, and come to the conclusion that he has intelligence, innate good nature, harmony in mental abilities, and mental balance.

But this man begins to speak. Before uttering the first word, he begins to laugh - no matter the village or the city, he raises his eyebrows, frowns his brow, and moves his mustache with a nervous movement. His unaesthetic facial expressions conflict with his morphology, and medical and psychological research confirms this. Yes, he is intelligent and kind, but he is a timid, weak-willed person.

While the morphological type is created by investigation, facial expressions are the result of education. If the Jupiterian in our example had spent his childhood in an environment where he was taught to want to express himself, he would not have become a neuropath and his facial expressions would have expressed a strong nature. This statement is a powerful support for those who observe signs of moral weakness in themselves. By improving our mental culture, we improve our nature, and this is a worthy goal.

People who are not subject to strong passions have calm facial expressions. These are lunar types - meek dreamers, Venusian types - passive people, as well as those Jupiterians who have indulged in a free life and have a calm or slightly frowning face.

About forehead facial expressions

On the faces of eternally trembling people (Mercury type), as well as on the faces of eternally busy people (Saturn type), wrinkles often appear already in youth. The deeper the wrinkles, the more they emphasize the ideas they represent. “The depth of the fold of any material indicates its frequent and daily use,” noted Delestre. Of course, you need to be able to distinguish mental wrinkles from those that appear from rapid fattening.

The movements of the forehead are closely related to the movements of the eyebrows.

“The forehead of a good man,” says Delestre, “bears the clarity of his conscience.” If the forehead is without wrinkles, this is the forehead of weak-willed, indecisive people (lunar and Venusian types and the like). The forehead rises above their light brown arched eyebrows, which are usually thin and emphasize the simplicity of their owner and the lack of reactions on the part of their passions.

Neuropaths have horizontal wrinkles on their foreheads that are the result of frequent raising of the eyebrows, a familiar gesture of constant surprise. The smallest work causes them to wrinkle their foreheads.

Balanced natures (Mars, Sun) have the smallest number of horizontal wrinkles on their foreheads, because they do not wrinkle in surprise: their foreheads are wrinkled vertically in the area where intense, strong-willed attention is expressed, that is, between the eyebrows at the root of the nose. Thus, vertical wrinkles go hand in hand with horizontal and thick eyebrows (“Mars”). The depth of the vertical wrinkle and wrinkles generally determines the size of mental control.

If the vertical wrinkle in question is very deep, it means a capricious and even violent will. In this case, it is accompanied by thick and unruly eyebrows of the Martian or Earth type. This type of forehead and eyebrows is found in people who are not amenable to any discipline. Delestre saw many such faces in prisons.

If you want to know whether the person who offers you his services (whether he is a man or a woman) can become an active and efficient employee, observe his forehead and eyebrows during a conversation. If he raises his eyebrows and horizontal wrinkles form on his forehead, he may be an active person, but nervous, and his activity will certainly be disordered and uneven.

If he shifts his eyebrows, as a result of which his forehead tightens and two or three vertical wrinkles appear between his eyes, then this is a person who can listen and concentrate: he really wants to work and has the desire to succeed. This person can advance far in his career.

Characteristics of the forehead and fortune telling

Wrinkles on the forehead, like the lines on the palm, correspond to the planets and carry certain information that reflects the character and abilities of a person. The uppermost wrinkle is located at the edge of the hair and falls under the auspices of Saturn and protects children. Below it is the wrinkle of Jupiter, showing a predisposition to religiosity. Next comes the wrinkle of Mars - this one patronizes the military. Below is the wrinkle of the Sun, which is especially favorable to rulers. Even lower is the wrinkle of Venus - a feature of rulers. The Mercury wrinkle that follows it indicates susceptibility to illness and suffering.

Different schools have different divisions of wrinkles, including the one shown in the figure.

Five wrinkles of equal length in the middle of the forehead speak of great intelligence, directness and integrity both in the family and in the service. Such a person is an ascetic who sacrifices himself for the happiness of his neighbor.

The deep and smooth wrinkle of Saturn marks the sexy champion. If the wrinkles of Jupiter and Saturn are curved in the shape of a bow, then their owner is distinguished by ambition. If these two wrinkles are tortuous, then they belong to a dishonest person, a liar. The fracture in the center of Jupiter's wrinkle indicates great spiritual strength. Travelers are characterized by a single straight wrinkle. If the only wrinkle wriggles like a snake, such a person is strong in both soul and body. The versatility of interests and talents is indicated by two equal deep wrinkles above the eyebrows. If there are many small and fine wrinkles above the eyebrows, then this indicates poor health.

Rice. 36. Distribution of wrinkles on the forehead according to European astrological principles: 1 – Saturn line; 2 – line of Jupiter; 3 – line of Mars; 4 – line of Venus; 5 – line of the Sun; 6 – line of the Moon; 7 – line of Mercury

Above the right eye is the line of the Sun, above the left - the Moon, and above the nose - Mercury.

Each of these lines from the right to the left side is divided into 60 equal parts, which is a year; the middle above the nose shows half of that number or years. When these lines are long, straight, and not intersected by extraneous lines, warts and spots, they show the following:

Saturn line: is responsible for house-building, indicates people skilled in crafts.

Jupiter line: indicates learning and wealth.

Mars line: belligerence, a disposition towards medicine and bloodshed.

Venus Line: disposition to music, panache, fun and pleasure.

Sun Line: predicts happiness, wealth and nobility.

Moon Line: love of travel, trade, animal hunting, etc.

Mercury line: love of science, eloquence, merchants, brokerage and litigation.

If these lines are short, crooked, crossed, spotted or warts, then they mean misfortune. Bent lines show variable temperament, the same means if these lines separate or diverge.

A curved or round line of Saturn shows an angry and unhappy person; a slingshot in it threatens misfortune, and such a person is more harmful than useful.

When branches up and down from the Jupiter line are visible, the person is in danger from water and this trait shows instability of character.

Chinese forehead

Chinese physiognomists placed the forehead in the upper zone of the face. When analyzing this site, a physiognomist can probably tell at first glance more about a person’s fate than about his character. According to the Chinese, the history of a person’s life for a period of 15 to 30 years is inscribed on the forehead.

Ideally, the bony structure of the forehead should be wide, but it should not protrude excessively. The areas on both sides of the forehead should slope down without the effect of sharp breaks. The skin should be fairly tight and have a healthy shine.

Among Chinese physiognomists, as to some extent in the West, the forehead is believed to indicate mental ability. However, the physiognomist must be careful when analyzing the “mighty” forehead. As with the Five Essential Features, a powerful forehead should be well balanced and in proportion to the other facial features.

If the forehead is so large that it protrudes excessively, then this can mean both genius and idiocy. Such cases can only be assessed in combination with other facial features.

Chinese physiognomists give the following characteristics of a person depending on the shape of the forehead.

If forehead narrow and low leaning back indicates a weak mind.

The forehead extends far in width and height(Fig. 37 d) – great mind.

Low forehead(Fig. 37a) - an energetic, cruel nature, prone to crime, replete with base instincts.

The forehead is wide and convex at the corners(Fig. 37b) – rich imagination, sick imagination.

The forehead is steep, convex in the middle- serious mind.

Crescent forehead(Fig. 37c) – a narrow-minded, routine nature, moderate in qualities, with hidden shortcomings.

Rice. 37. Forehead shapes according to the Chinese school of physiognomy

Rice. 38. Forehead shapes according to the Japanese school of physiognomy

According to the Japanese school of physiognomy forehead shaped like an inverted pyramid(Fig. 38, No. 2) - a melancholy-cunning nature, deceitful and stupid, selfish, prone to debauchery.

The forehead is straight and slightly wide– straightforwardness, kindness and close-mindedness.

The forehead is quadrangular(Fig. 38, No. 4) – generosity.

Strongly developed forehead- broad, observant mind.

Forehead too big- laziness, immobility.

The forehead is too prominent(Fig. 38, No. 3) – an evil, narrow-minded, worldly-practical nature.

Forehead is too flat– soft disposition, and sometimes limited mind.

Forehead too wide– hot, quick-tempered nature, arrogance.

Forehead is too small– mobility (usually poverty of spiritual strength).

Forehead with convex musical bumps(Fig. 38, No. 7) – musical talent and richness of the inner world.

Small, short forehead- dishonesty.

The forehead as perceived by Europeans

Forehead smooth, without wrinkles– carefree, cheerful disposition.

Forehead with horizontal wrinkles close to the eyebrows,- deep mind.

Forehead with horizontal wrinkles close to the hairline,- cruelty, pride.

Forehead with deep wrinkles in the form of folds– mediocre mind, laziness.

A forehead with wrinkles radiating in all directions,- eccentricity, originality.

Forehead with perpendicular wrinkles towards the base of the nose- deep mind.

Forehead with horizontal, parallel and subtle wrinkles– calm mind, honesty.

Forehead with perpendicular wrinkles– great intelligence, energy, pride, ambition.

Forehead with deep zigzag wrinkles- failure in business.

The forehead is low, bony, with deep zigzag wrinkles- shamelessness and all kinds of vices.

Forehead with deep and irregular wrinkles in all directions– impetuous mind, harshness, quarrelsomeness and rudeness.

Some people reach maturity in their twenties, others in their thirties. As physiognomists believe, it depends on the fate of the person. Typically, intellectual maturity develops with experience. The more problems we face, the more intensely we are forced to develop and use our abilities to solve them. In this process, marks and lines appear on the face, well known to face readers as wrinkles.

In physiognomy, it is believed that the lines between the forehead and chin reflect the fate of a person. Some lines may be clearly defined, others only slightly.

Rice. 39. Location of wrinkles

People who have a tougher life tend to have deeper wrinkles. But that's all: the philtrum is not a hard and fast rule, as many young people develop deep wrinkles prematurely. When studying a face, analysis of these phenomena can reveal a lot about the character and fate of a person.

Of course, there are a large number of different lines on each part of the face. We will explore only the main ones here. For example, from one to six lines usually run across the forehead (Fig. 39a).

Irregular lines - thin, short, wavy and scattered on the forehead (Fig. 39b) - characterize lack of concentration, poor health and helplessness of a person in life. Such people have a tendency to do evil deeds. Even if such a person rises to a high position, his mind will still be marked by suspicion. If these lines are very deep, then this may indicate premature death.

Irregular lines, but rough and more clearly expressed and also scattered on the forehead (Fig. 39c), indicate the collapse of plans, gloominess and inability to achieve intended goals. Such people also suffer greatly from domestic troubles.

A single horizontal line passing through the middle of the forehead (Fig. 39 d) is a sign of a beautiful and noble life. Such a person is likely to be successful in all his endeavors, and especially at a young age. However, if the line is located too close to the eyebrows, that is, “too low,” then this may indicate early unhappiness in life.

Two or three lines crossing the forehead (Fig. 39e) are considered a good sign. A forehead with two lines is very common among successful and resourceful people. A forehead with three lines indicates a high degree of artistry and literary talent.

If three lines on the forehead intersect in the middle with a short perpendicular line (Fig. 39e), then this is a sign of nobility, especially favorable fate, long life and high position associated with power.

Three long lines without breaks running across the forehead, forming a large arc (Fig. 39g), indicate a person of great popularity.

Such a person is highly respected and has a wide circle of friends. People of this type live a relatively calm life, without much adversity.

Lines of unusual shape crossing the forehead (Fig. 39h) indicate that the person will early occupy a prominent position. However, if other facial features are weak, then this means a life full of hardships.

Rare diamond-shaped lines (Fig. 39i) indicate long life and great fame. This is often found among writers, artists, musicians and other creative individuals.

Hairline according to Chinese standards

The forehead should be considered based on its shape, width, height (from hairline to eyebrows), wrinkles, hairline (front and on both sides), shine. There should be no distortion on the forehead, either from birth defects or other causes. An uneven forehead on the left side indicates the loss of a father at an early age, on the right - the loss of a mother.

When determining the width and height of the forehead, a line is drawn one inch above the eyebrows (Fig. 39a). Measurement is taken from the bottom right hairline across the front of the forehead to the bottom left hairline. In most cases, the length of this line is from 12.5 to 20 cm. Of course, there are narrower and wider foreheads, but they are considered “abnormal”.

Ideally, the width of the front of the forehead ranges from 7.5 to 10 cm (Fig. 39b). Then there is a slope to the temples on both sides of the face. The slope should be smooth and soft. Individuals with such foreheads are capable of achieving success and prosperity.

If there is a sudden “break” in the slope, then this indicates poverty and unhappiness. A wide forehead with a high hairline and plenty of meat on the bones indicates intelligence and prominence.

Conversely, a narrow forehead with a low hairline indicates mediocrity.

As a general rule, the hairline should be 5–8.7 cm from the eyebrows, but should not excessively exceed the length of the nose or lower area (Fig. 39c). Moreover, this length only matches the natural hairline and not the hairline created by cosmetics, wigs or plastic surgery.

Many individuals begin to lose hair and become bald at a young age. But this receding line should not be considered part of the forehead.

Horizontally, the ideal forehead should have a length of 15 to 16.5 cm.

Thus, the standard for a good forehead is an open, hairless area of ​​12.5 to 20 cm in length and 6.2 to 15 cm in width.

The hairline is closely related to the shape of the forehead. If the forehead is angular, then the hairline will be the same (Fig. 39 d). A person with this type of forehead will likely be practical, gifted, and sociable.

He has a disciplined, practical mind.

However, he has no artistic streak. A woman with such a forehead prefers a business or professional career rather than housework.

An angular forehead in which both lateral hairlines converge, making the upper hairline much shorter than the previous type, indicates that the person has an unhappy family background. Such a person submits to outside pressure and may be under constant stress.

In such cases, a person should try to correct this negative situation by taking a more confident and courageous position (Fig. 39e).

An M-shaped hairline (Fig. 39e) is a sign of artistic temperament and great sensitivity.

Such people are able to excel as artists, musicians, writers and scientists. By giving free rein to his passion, such a person may discover incongruous anger and joy.

He is also indifferent to the future, has no business acumen, and prefers a bohemian lifestyle.

Women with a hairline similar to the M-shape, but much smaller and more pointed (Fig. 39g), belong to the chaste and virtuous type. They are sensual and value consistency in relationships. They also love household chores.

Women often have a round hairline (Fig. 39h). This indicates a liberated spirit and an independent thinking mind. Angular hairlines can be found on enterprising women and female employees. Such women are always ready to compete with men on equal terms.

An uneven hairline, with frayed edges (Fig. 39i), forming a jagged outline, indicates a difficult childhood and a neurotic personality in later years. Often such a person is gloomy and rude and rebels against society.

Most people with a jagged hairline have low intelligence. But again a word of caution is necessary. This conclusion does not apply to people who have a well-shaped forehead, wide and fairly even, despite an irregular hairline.

Facts from history show that many rebellious people, despite their jagged hairline, had high intelligence.

Rice. 40. Zones of distribution of abilities among irregularities of the forehead and skull according to European phrenology

1 – physical love;

2 – instinct to preserve the species;

3 – kindness;

4 – spirit of contradiction;

5 – cunning;

6 – tendency to steal;

7 – pride;

8 – ambition;

9 – caution;

10 – tameability;

11 – terrain instinct;

12 – memory for faces;

13 – memory of words;

14 – ability for articulate speech;

15 – feeling that determines the relationship of sounds;

16 – feeling that determines the ratio of numbers;

17 – mechanical instinct;

18 – metaphysical mind;

19 – poetic talent;

20 – imitation;

21 – tendency towards religiosity;

22 – steadfastness

About hair color and composition

After we have talked so much about the hairline, it would be simply unfair not to mention how physiognomists evaluate the characteristics of hair color and softness.

WHITE HAIR shows a cold, weak and fearful nature;

RED - courage and deceit;

RUSSIAN - justice and health;

BLACK – stubbornness, arrogance and inconstancy;

CURLY HAIR – amorousness;

THICK AND HARD – stubbornness and wildness;

RARE AND SUBTLE - slyness, malice and generally bad temper;

SOFT – timidity and good nature;

WIRKS ON THE TEMPLES - happiness;

HAIR STANDING ON END - indicates impudence, stubbornness and intractability.

Often the head shape of newborns is significantly different from what parents expect to see. Because of this, many young mothers begin to worry that something is wrong with their baby. In some cases, signs of skull deformation do indicate pathological processes, but this happens quite rarely.

All other points are either determined by the physiology of newborns, or arose as a result of improper care of the baby and are subject to simple correction. But parents should remember that before taking any measures to correct the outline of the baby’s head, it is necessary to consult a doctor so as not to aggravate the situation.

Childbirth as one of the main causes of irregularities

The skull bones of children, when they are first born, are quite soft to the touch, and at the same time they move a little. This is one of a number of mechanisms provided by nature to facilitate the birth process - this makes it easier for the baby’s body to pass through the birth canal. It is because of this that the shape of a newborn’s head for the first time after birth seems unnatural and even a little scary. All infants who have passed through the narrow birth canal have a slightly (and sometimes very) elongated and uneven head. Even if the unevenness and bevels seem very pronounced, but the doctor is not alarmed by this, there is no need to worry - everything will quickly return to normal, laid down at the genetic level.

A perfectly round, large, even head can only be found in a baby born by caesarean section. But even in this case, not everything is so simple; after a few days, even noticeable dents, bevels and flattening may appear on it as a result of external influences. But if a baby immediately after a cesarean section experiences a noticeable deformation on the surface of the skull, this is a cause for concern. In this case, the baby is sent for examination, which will help identify the cause of the problem.

Physiologically normal types of head shape

In order not to worry in vain, it is worth familiarizing yourself with what shape of the head a newborn baby born naturally may have:

• Tower. In this case, the skull has a slightly elongated shape at the back of the head, which is why the head resembles a large egg. If there are no other symptoms, there is no cause for concern. This is a normal development of events during natural childbirth against the background of correct presentation of the fetus.
• Beveled. It is characterized by a convexity in the crown area and a sloping nape. Most often, it is a consequence of the position of the fetus facing the mother’s stomach and is also considered a physiological norm.

Advice: If time has passed, and the shape of the baby’s head has still not reached the “ideal” state, it is worth looking around and checking whether heredity is to blame. Often, sloping tops and double napes are “hidden” under the hair, so it’s even worth checking out relatives and finding their childhood photographs.

A small depression on the crown of the head is also not a cause for concern, it is a fontanel. It pulsates slightly under the fingers and does not cause any concern to the baby. You just need to watch how it overgrows; no additional care is required.

Signs to watch out for

And yet there are points that may indicate a problem. Most often this is due to intrauterine developmental disorders or injuries during childbirth.

• Birth tumor. A phenomenon that develops directly at the moment when the fetal head passes through the birth canal. The formation is tissue swelling that can occur in any part of the skull. The longer it takes for your baby to be born after your water breaks, the more severe the swelling may be. If the tumor is very large, specialized treatment under the supervision of specialists may be required. In cases where the deformation is minor, it disappears on its own within a couple of days.

• . This is the result of trauma received by the child during childbirth. The formation is a massive hemorrhage that resembles a lump on the surface of the skull. Most often in newborns, the parietal areas are affected, much less often - the forehead and back of the head. Considering the fact that blood accumulates gradually in the injured area of ​​tissue, it is sometimes possible to assess the extent of the problem only after a few days. Most often, this type of consequences is observed if the child has a large head that does not correspond to the size of the mother’s pelvis.

Typically, these conditions become obvious immediately after childbirth, and the doctor explains to the parents how best to proceed in this or that case. When to wait and when to start treatment immediately. You should not risk the health of your newborn and hope for a medical error. It is necessary to strictly follow all the recommendations of specialists and then the chances of a favorable outcome will be very high.

Changing the shape of the head as a result of improper care

It also happens that the shape of the newborn’s head quickly returns to normal or does not suffer at all during the birth process, and signs of deformation begin to appear on it only after some time. This is the result of improper care and refusal to manipulate, which can preserve the baby’s ideal head shape.

• Most often, the problem is that the baby constantly lies in one position. As a result of significant pressure on the still soft bones of the skull, dents and bevels form.
• A flat back of the head is formed in the same way, but in this case the child always lies on his back. By the way, this situation can also lead to asphyxia with vomit as a result of regurgitation.
• In addition, a flat nape in a newborn may be a symptom of rickets. At the first suspicion, you need to consult a doctor who will refute or confirm the diagnosis and, if necessary, prescribe effective treatment.
• A pronounced slant of the back of the head on the right or left side is often the result of improper positioning of the crib. If everything interesting for the baby is on a specific side (or the mother always approaches on one side), then it is not surprising that he constantly turns his head to this side. The crib must be placed so that there is access from both sides. As a last resort, the baby needs to be turned over regularly.

Due to the incorrect position of the newborn, not only the shape of his head can suffer, but also torticollis can develop. This will not happen if you monitor the baby’s position and take him in your arms more often.

Methods for correcting head shape in infants

Doctors do not recommend that parents try to correct the shape of their children’s skulls, especially if there are no obvious reasons for this. The soft bones of the skull themselves quickly level out and take on the desired appearance if you follow the rules for caring for your toddler. Particularly suspicious mothers try to give their babies a head massage, gently stroking it with “rolling” movements. If these are soft and gentle movements in a clockwise direction, then there is nothing prejudicial. But we must not forget about the fontanelle, which is not at all protected from external influences.

As a last resort, you should contact a specialist about purchasing an orthopedic pillow. Modern specialized salons offer dozens of interesting, useful and safe models when used correctly. You should not choose a product yourself or based on the recommendations of ordinary sellers, this can cause great harm. In this case, you need to regularly attend preventive examinations, follow the listed rules, monitor the baby’s nutrition and follow all the recommendations of the local pediatrician.

Many young mothers are very worried if they notice that their newborn’s head is uneven. Lack of experience gives rise to fear and uncertainty: what if something is wrong with the child? However, experts are in a hurry to reassure. In most cases, an uneven head in a baby is normal. There are only a few cases where an uneven head reports problems. For example, a child may have a hematoma.

Not only the mother’s body prepares for childbirth. The child also internally prepares for such a process. The baby's skull remains soft until birth. This makes it easier for the mother to pass through the narrow birth canal. This was how nature intended. This is why babies whose mothers give birth themselves have a slightly uneven or large head.

The reason is a slight deformation of the skull: at birth, the flat head stretches out and takes on an uneven, elongated shape. There is no pathology in this, so you can calm down. There are no special rules provided here.

At birth, a baby’s skull is always slightly deformed: even if it wasn’t like that right away, changes may appear later. However, after some time, the skull will acquire a normal shape, the asymmetry will be restored, and changes in the circumference will no longer be noticeable. Therefore, there is no need to worry too much about this.

The head does not take its final shape immediately. For some, the features of the head circumference are formed only by school age.

Usually the skull becomes round and even by one year or a little later.

Changes

However, sometimes a flat head takes on a completely unnatural shape. Sometimes the reason for this is a hematoma, but the position of the child also matters. For example, a child has a very sloping head. This happens not at birth, but after childbirth: the head becomes flattened, uneven, large, and sometimes its girth does not correspond to the norm.

If the back of the baby's head is very elongated or slanted, the cause is most often the incorrect position of the child. He can remain in a lying position for a long time, which leads to such changes. Usually in such cases, children turn and tilt their head to one side.

It is dangerous to constantly place your baby on his back. This position is not always harmless, since the baby can spit up and choke, sometimes even choke. What to do? It is recommended to place babies on their side, but change sides. This will help avoid changes and deformations of the skull.

Children always turn their heads towards something interesting: there may be a mother or a rattle. If the crib is located against a wall, the baby will only have to turn in one direction. This can also cause disturbances and deformation of the skull. A sloping nape may also appear.

The bones of the skull remain soft in the first months of life: this protects it from injury and helps brain development.

Special areas - fontanelles - are soft tissue, the cells of which are very elastic. While the fontanelles are open, the shape of the head may change. For example, it may become flat, or the back of the head may become skewed to one side. This means that the child has been lying on his back for a long time.

Violations

Many young mothers worry when they notice irregularities and irregularities in the circumference of the baby’s head. But pediatricians and doctors reassure: as soon as the child stops lying down and starts sitting up, the situation will change. This usually happens when the baby spends more time in an upright position. Already at 2-3 months the skull begins to straighten, changes in circumference disappear.

However, sometimes deformation of the circle is a sign that the asymmetry is broken. This happens for various reasons: the baby lacks vitamins, diseases appear and begin to manifest themselves. For example, rickets, which is common in children, often manifests itself this way.

If a baby has rickets, his bones do not strengthen due to lack of calcium, develop poorly, and grow poorly. The fontanelles do not overgrow, so the baby’s head remains soft for a long time, and the skull is subject to changes. Usually in such situations, doctors advise being with the baby in the fresh air more often, and also giving him vitamin D and calcium.

If the baby begins to turn his head only in one direction, his neck may be crooked. It doesn’t matter whether the child is lying down or in his arms. In this case, you should definitely contact a specialist.

A doctor’s consultation will also be required in another case: if the fontanelles quickly overgrow. Intracranial pressure may occur, leading to serious problems.

What to do in this case? An experienced doctor will immediately identify violations of the circumference and girth of the head. But it is better to carry out routine examinations with a neurologist and surgeon. This will allow you to identify problems at the first stage.

A hematoma deserves special attention. It is an accumulation of blood or fluid in areas where soft tissue cells rupture. It usually happens right under the skin or near the skull. Why does a hematoma occur? If the child was large and walked heavily, he had to “pave” his way. This causes damage such as a hematoma.

A hematoma can also appear in another case: if the mother had a cesarean section. The baby moves from one environment to another, and this happens abruptly. Tissue cells cannot immediately adapt to the new environment, which is why a hematoma forms. For a child, this phenomenon is stress. If the hematoma becomes larger than normal, this is a bad sign.

Hematoma often appears in premature babies. Sometimes it is the cause of curvature of the circumference and incorrect girth of the skull. The hematoma may resolve on its own, but medical intervention may be required. In any case, you must first conduct a diagnosis and identify the type of hematoma, especially if it is large. This is out of the norm.

How to align the head

A sloping and irregular back of the head, a flat head, a convex forehead, irregular asymmetry - all these situations are not always a cause for concern. But only a doctor can determine the cause. If the case is dangerous, they may prescribe an additional examination and collect tests. In any case, you should first consult a doctor to eliminate your own fears.

There are some things parents can do themselves:

• a beautiful, even skull can be formed by alternating sides of the bed. For example, first the headboard is on one side, then on the other. The breast and container of milk should also be served to the baby from different sides. You can lay your child in different directions each time, change position. The standards will be respected;
• It is necessary to hold the child in your arms more often. For the same reason, it is recommended to turn the baby onto his tummy more often. In this position, its head will not be able to bend, asymmetry will be eliminated, and the back of the head will take on the desired shape.

The recommendations presented above are sufficient if the situation is not critical. But some mothers believe that their baby’s head is crooked and try to correct it in every possible way. Don't try everything: the most effective method is massage. But the delicate skin and soft bones of a newborn should be treated with extreme caution. This is not a massage. You just need to carefully give the skull and head the desired shape.

You can contact an orthopedist and consult with him about using an orthopedic pillow: sometimes such a thing is very useful, this is confirmed by numerous reviews.

Your baby is finally with you. Mom and dad look at the baby with adoration and a certain amount of anxiety. And this anxiety is quite understandable - young children are susceptible to various misfortunes and diseases. And one of these misfortunes is increased intracranial pressure. In our country, pediatricians are very fond of making such a diagnosis, simply for the sake of being on the safe side, without conducting the necessary examination.

But increased intracranial pressure, as a rule, is based on quite serious pathologies that require immediate treatment. Otherwise, the child’s condition will only worsen, because treatment of intracranial pressure is meaningless if the original source – the disease itself – is not eliminated. Most often, increased intracranial pressure is a consequence of a disease such as hydrocephalus of the brain.

What is hydrocephalus?

Hydrocephalus is popularly called dropsy of the brain. With hydrocephalus, the volume of the ventricles of the brain increases, often quite significantly. The child’s brain is structured as follows: it contains several cavities called ventricles, which communicate with each other. These cavities are filled with cerebrospinal fluid - cerebrospinal fluid.

If too much cerebrospinal fluid is produced, it accumulates in the cavities of the brain. It is this fact that leads to the development of dropsy of the brain, or hydrocephalus. Moreover, the greater the excess fluid, the more pronounced the disease, and the more the general health of the child and his brain suffers.

There are several types of hydrocephalus, depending on the location of the cerebrospinal fluid. In the event that cerebrospinal fluid cannot flow from one ventricle to another, hydrocephalus is called non-communicating or occlusive. If the cerebrospinal fluid moves freely from one ventricle to another, hydrocephalus is called communicating or open.

In addition, hydrocephalus can be an underlying disease - primary, or secondary: the result of other diseases, such as congenital malformations of the central nervous system, cerebral vessels, tumors of various origins. There are still quite a large number of varieties of hydrocephalus, but they are all derivatives of these basic types.

Symptoms of hydrocephalus

It goes without saying that impaired absorption of cerebrospinal fluid and its circulation cannot but pass without leaving a mark on children's health. And the manifestations can be very different in different children, especially in different age categories - up to two years, and after two years of age.

Symptoms before age two:

The most important sign that a child suffers from hydrocephalus is accelerated growth of head circumference. This happens due to the fact that the sutures of the skull of a small child have not yet fused, and the bones are moved apart by the growing brain. This happens in much the same way as when inflating a balloon, only in the brain instead of air there is excess water.

As you know, until a child reaches one year of age, it is necessary to visit the pediatrician for a preventive examination once a month. Mandatory examination includes measuring head circumference. The doctor creates a head circumference growth graph that can be used to track the increase in head circumference.

Most often, the cause of a pathological increase in head circumference is hydrocephalus. In addition to too rapid growth of head circumference, hydrocephalus may be indicated by a change in the large fontanel - it increases in size and protrudes excessively. Normally, the fontanel should close by the age of one, but if the child suffers from hydrocephalus, the fontanel can be open even at two years.

If you are interested in what hydrocephalus looks like in children, the photos will help you get an idea. The proportions of the head change - the bones of the skull become significantly thinner, as a result of which the baby's forehead increases and protrudes forward, becoming disproportionate. The venous network is clearly visible under the skin of the forehead and face. If the disease continues to progress, the baby's eyes begin to droop down, and the tone of the muscles of the arms and legs increases.

There is a clear lag of the child in psychomotor development:

• The child does not begin to hold his head up as expected.
• The child does not begin to sit up on his own or even attempt to sit down.
• The same goes for trying to stand up on your own.

A child suffering from hydrocephalus of the brain is lethargic, he has no interest in anything around him, and very often suddenly begins to cry, for no apparent reason. Doctors suggest that the child often experiences headaches, since the baby very often grabs his head.

There are a huge number of different symptoms of increased intracranial pressure. However, most of them can only be recognized by experienced doctors - a pediatrician, neurosurgeon or neurologist. The only thing parents can do is to independently measure the circumference of the child’s head and note changes in his behavior and psychomotor development. If parents and the local pediatrician notice any abnormalities in the child’s growth and development, this should be a serious reason for a complete and thorough examination of the child. This examination is necessary in order to exclude the presence of hydrocephalus in the child.

Symptoms of hydrocephalus in children over two years of age:

If hydrocephalus develops in children over two years of age, the symptoms of the disease look a little different than in children. The most classic symptom of increased intracranial pressure in children over two years of age is constant headache, accompanied by a feeling of nausea and even debilitating vomiting. Most often this phenomenon is observed at night and in the morning. In addition, a child suffering from hydrocephalus often experiences pathological changes in the fundus of the eye due to the fact that the child experiences swelling of the optic nerve head. Such a violation is easily detected during an examination of the child by an ophthalmologist.

Parents should always remember that any headaches in children, and even more so those accompanied by nausea and vomiting, are almost always a serious symptom that requires immediate examination of the child by a doctor - a neurologist or neurosurgeon. After all, hydrocephalus is far from the only possible cause of such symptoms. Nausea and vomiting can be caused by various tumors and malformations of the brain.

Unfortunately, very often pediatricians simply lose sight of this fact. And as a result, the child receives absolutely unnecessary treatment for diseases such as pancreatitis, gastritis, gallbladder dyskinesia, poisoning and other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, the child sees a neurologist only when it becomes clear to the doctors that the treatment has not brought results. And precious time has already been lost, the disease may take an advanced form, and treatment will be much more difficult and less productive.

If parents notice similar symptoms in their child, they should insist on an immediate examination of the child by a neurologist. If the disease is diagnosed early, the prognosis of the disease will be much more favorable than with advanced forms. And sometimes only timely diagnosis can save a baby’s life.

There are a number of other symptoms that may indicate that a child has hydrocephalus. Such symptoms include epileptic convulsions, increased tone of the arms and legs, urinary incontinence, and blurred vision. In addition, with hydrocephalus, various disorders of the endocrine system are common: growth retardation or advance, premature puberty, obesity.

Reasons for the development of hydrocephalus

Of course, when they learn that their child has hydrocephalus, they begin to ask the question “Why?” It is simply impossible to answer this question unambiguously. The main reasons leading to the development of hydrocephalus are described below:

• Fetal hydrocephalus

The level of modern medicine is quite high, and modern methods of prenatal diagnosis allow doctors to detect hydrocephalus in the fetus. For example, ultrasound diagnostics can detect hydrocephalus of the brain as early as 16–20 weeks of pregnancy. Most often, hydrocephalus during fetal development is caused by intrauterine infections such as herpes, toxoplasmosis or cytomegalovirus.

That is why, when planning a pregnancy, it is very important to undergo all tests for hidden infections, and, if necessary, undergo the appropriate course of treatment. This measure will help you prevent a huge number of health problems in your baby, and not just the risk of developing hydrocephalus. In more rare cases, hydrocephalus may develop due to a genetic predisposition.

• Hydrocephalus of newborns

The cause of the development of hydrocephalus of the brain in newborns in 90% of all cases is congenital malformations of the brain or, as well as previous intrauterine infections. Much less often, but it all happens that the cause of the development of hydrocephalus is birth trauma, especially in those babies who were born ahead of schedule.

• Hydrocephalus in older children

In the event that the development of hydrocephalus occurs in children over one year of age, there can be a huge number of reasons. Such causes may be: meningitis, encephalitis, infectious diseases, malformations of cerebral vessels, traumatic brain injury, genetic disorders. Sometimes, unfortunately, it is not possible in some cases to identify why hydrocephalus of the brain in children.

Diagnosis of the disease

In order to diagnose hydrocephalus, the doctor must interview the parents and examine the child himself. After this, the baby will undergo a series of studies:

• NSG - (neurosonography).
• CT scan.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Ultrasound examination of the brain. It is carried out for children under two years of age.

Based on the data received, the doctor will make the correct diagnosis and choose the treatment tactics that are appropriate for your child.

Treatment of hydrocephalus

If the diagnosis of hydrocephalus is confirmed, the child simply needs to consult a neurosurgeon. In almost all cases, the treatment of hydrocephalus must be surgical. And it is the neurosurgeon who is able to identify both indications and contraindications for the operation. If this is not done in a timely manner, the disease will take a chronic, advanced course, and treatment will be more difficult.

Of course, all parents are worried about the upcoming operation. However, you should not delay making a decision too much. After all, constantly increased intracranial pressure leads to delayed psychomotor development, which is not always possible to catch up with later.

Also, do not forget about the size of the child's head. As already mentioned, hydrocephalus leads to the fact that the head circumference of the brain is constantly increasing. And after the operation it will not return to its previous size, but will only stop increasing. And the longer you delay the operation, the more your baby’s head will increase in size.

The meaning of the operation is to divert it from the ventricles of the brain into some other body cavity, from where it is then freely removed from the body. Most often, ventriculo-peritoneal shunting is used for these purposes. The doctor installs a unique system of silicone catheters that carry cerebrospinal fluid from the ventricles of the brain into the abdominal cavity.

Such operations not only save hundreds of children’s lives every year, but also allow such children to lead a full life: attend kindergarten and school.

The most wonderful event for a woman is the first meeting with her child, whom she carried within her for 9 months and all this time she only guessed what he would look like. But finally the moment of childbirth comes, and the long-awaited meeting takes place. Probably every mother carefully studies the appearance of her child, and if she pays attention to other babies, she will notice that not everyone has the same skull shape. In this regard, the question may arise: why?

Skull shapes in children

Doctors distinguish two main types of skull shapes in babies:

1. Dolichocephalic head shape. In this case, it has an oval and oblong shape.
2. Brachycephalic head shape. With it, the skull has a rounded shape.

These forms are considered normal in medicine.

Reasons for deviations

In general, there are several reasons why children are born with different head shapes. First of all, it depends on how the baby was born. And today there are two ways of childbirth:

• natural;
• C-section.

The fact is that when a child moves through the birth canal, he is under pressure. During this process, the baby’s skull adapts to the structure of the mother’s organs, and a dolichocephalic head shape is formed. The skull can change its shape thanks to the fontanelle and elastic membranes that connect its bones in a baby. Therefore, the dolichocephalic head shape is more common in those newborns who were born naturally.

It is also believed that the elongated shape of the skull in the fetus is formed during occipital presentation. This happens when the mentioned area of ​​the baby's head is the first to pass through the birth canal during the birth process.

Babies born by Caesarean section are not subjected to pressure, so the skull retains its original round, brachycephalic shape. Interestingly, the dolichocephalic shape of a newborn’s head is considered more acceptable of these two norms. After all, with the natural birth of a child, the whole organism of the newborn is launched.

With a caesarean section, especially when it is planned and started without waiting for the onset of labor, natural initiation does not occur in the newborn’s body. Therefore, for babies born using this method, adaptation to life outside the womb may occur somewhat differently than for children born naturally.

Pathological forms of the skull of newborns

There are several pathological forms of the skull of newborns:

1. Plagiocephaly, or "flat head". With this pathology, the frontal or flattened, and the head is asymmetrical.
2. Acrocephaly. With this pathology, newborns have a conical, elongated head shape. The sutures of the skull bones close prematurely.
3. Scaphocephaly. It is characterized by the fact that with it early ossification of the skull occurs, and its frontal or occipital parts can protrude significantly.

Head circumference in newborns

Not only the weight and height of the newborn matters, but also the size of the head, as well as its circumference. These indicators can tell doctors a lot about the physical condition of the newborn child.

The size and circumference of the head is measured with a soft measuring tape at the most convex places - the back of the head and eyebrow lines. The head circumference of a newborn is measured from the second to the fourth day of his life, after the disappearance of postpartum edema.

A circumference of 35 centimeters is considered the norm, but a fluctuation from 32 to 38 cm is the norm for deviation. With any of these indicators, the head circumference of children is 2.5 cm greater than the chest size. When the baby turns 5 months old, the mentioned indicators should become equal. And by one year, the child’s chest should already exceed the head circumference by the same 2.5 cm.

If after measurements it becomes obvious that there is a deviation, this indicates a possible pathology. To determine it more accurately, you need to know in which direction the deviation is - more or less.

Hydrocephalus

There are several types of possible pathologies. One of them is a disease such as hydrocephalus (or, in other words, dropsy). With this disease, there is an increase in the volume of cerebrospinal fluid in the child’s skull.

Photos of newborn children with this problem clearly show that the size of the head is greatly increased, the brain region is larger in size compared to the facial region, and the frontal part protrudes greatly forward. The accumulation of this fluid leads to an increase in intracranial pressure.

Symptoms of hydrocephalus

Symptoms of dropsy, or hydrocephalus, are:

• increase in head circumference;
• the baby’s skull continues to grow after birth;
• the child is developmentally delayed;
• he is irritable, lethargic, whiny, and at times, on the contrary, becomes aggressive;
• the baby may experience headaches;
• he often experiences nausea and vomiting;
• doctors usually detect changes in the fundus;
• epileptic seizures are possible;
• urinary incontinence.

If a child is diagnosed with hydrocephalus, then he must be shown to a neurosurgeon. Most often, this disease is treated surgically, and the neurosurgeon, after examination and a thorough examination, gives indications or contraindications for the upcoming operation.

After successful surgery, the disease usually does not progress. The child can attend regular preschool institutions (kindergartens) and school with his peers. Sometimes treatment is carried out without surgery, using drugs that reduce the production of cerebrospinal fluid. At the same time, the shape of the skull gradually returns to normal.

Microcephaly

The second type of possible pathology in newborns is a disease such as microcephaly. With it, there is a decrease in brain mass in a newborn, in contrast to healthy children, and an associated decrease in the size of the head circumference.

There are many reasons that provoke the development of this disease. These can be various infectious diseases suffered during pregnancy, intoxication of the fetus in the womb with alcohol, tobacco and drugs. Such effects are especially dangerous in the early stages of pregnancy, when all the organs and systems of the child are just being formed.

The use of certain antibiotics during pregnancy has a negative effect. The influence of radioactive radiation, toxic poisoning of the fetus, genetic abnormalities can also cause the development of microcephaly in newborns. In this case, the child’s skull will be noticeably smaller compared to children without pathology.

Symptoms of microcephaly

Microcephaly of a newborn can be recognized even visually, without additional examinations. This disease is accompanied by the following symptoms:

1. The head circumference of a newborn is 2-3 times smaller than the norm. If in healthy children it is 32-38 cm, then in newborns with microcephaly this figure is only 25-27 centimeters. Photos of newborn children with microcephaly show that the shape of their skull is changed - the child’s face grows, but the head itself remains small.
2. The weight of the brain in healthy children is approximately 400 g, and in newborns with microcephaly it fluctuates around 250 g.
3. Frequent companions of this disease are such deviations as “cleft lip”, strabismus, “cleft palate”.
4. Children with microcephaly are born with a closed fontanel, or its closure occurs in the first month of life.
5. The baby is noticeably lagging behind in emotional and speech development. At the same time, he not only cannot reproduce words and sounds himself, but also practically does not understand the speech spoken by others.

Microcephaly is currently, unfortunately, an incurable disease. Treatment is mainly aimed at reducing the development of defects.

Macrocephaly

Another type of possible pathology is macrocephaly. In medicine, this is the name for an increase in the volume of the skull and the weight of the brain in the absence of dropsy. With this disease, the weight of the brain can reach 2850 grams. This pathology can be asymptomatic, and the appearance of the brain is practically no different from normal.

Macrocephaly is a congenital disorder, but can sometimes occur after birth. Unfortunately, the reasons why it occurs are currently unknown.

Even if your newborn has a dolichocephalic head shape and there are no abnormalities or pathologies in the shape of the skull, it is necessary to properly care for the baby to prevent the appearance of postpartum pathologies. The fact is that the skull bones of recently born babies are relatively soft and not hardened, so when the baby lies in one position for a long time, the skull bones become deformed, and the head eventually takes on an irregular shape. In order for the dolichocephalic shape of the fetal head to change, in the first 12 weeks of life, parents need to change the position of the newborn as often as possible, each time placing him on the other side.

In newly born babies, the head circumference is 2 cm larger than the circumference of the chest. But it happens that its size increases. For example, if a lot of fluid accumulates in the cranial cavity. Then the doctor diagnoses “hydrocephalus” - in newborns the problem often develops as a consequence of intrauterine infections.

What is the reason?

The brain is surrounded on all sides by a fluid called cerebrospinal fluid. This fluid protects nerve tissue from mechanical damage and microbes. In addition, it removes toxic metabolic products from them.

Liquor also circulates in the four cavities of the brain - the ventricles, which communicate with each other. It is constantly formed in their choroid plexuses and here, having washed the outer meninges, it is absorbed back into the bloodstream.

Normally, the total amount of cerebrospinal fluid in a newborn does not exceed 20 ml. If the production, circulation or drainage of cerebrospinal fluid is disrupted, then its volume can increase several times. This is how hydrocephalus occurs, or, in other words, dropsy of the brain.

The causes of hydrocephalus in newborns are varied. The most common ones include:

• Maternal infections during pregnancy
• Birth injuries
• Malformations of the brain or spinal cord
• Hemorrhages into the cranial cavity
• Brain tumors
• Very rarely, the disease is caused by genetic disorders

How to suspect the disease?

The main symptom of hydrocephalus in babies is rapid head growth. The bones of the skull in children are elastic, so they easily “stretch” under the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid.

If the disease developed in the baby while still in the womb, then a change in the shape of the head is detected immediately at birth. Otherwise (for example, if you receive a birth injury), the excess of its circumference compared to the norm is determined by the pediatrician during the next preventive examination. In addition, the doctor feels a slightly swollen and enlarged fontanel.

A sick child looks lethargic, drowsy, and does not gain weight well. Many young patients experience:

• increased tearfulness,
• frequent regurgitation,
• vomit,
• venous network on the forehead and scalp.

More rare signs of hydrocephalus in newborns appear when the disease is severe. It can be:

• Seizures
• Trembling of hands, chin
• Eye displacement
• Heart rhythm disturbances
• Pale skin

In a very rare, so-called compensated form, hydrocephalus is practically asymptomatic. In such a situation, it is discovered by chance, for example, during an X-ray examination of the skull for another disease.

Examination of the baby

The main method that allows one to suspect hydrocephalus in a newborn is measuring the head circumference. Normally, this figure should increase in the first three months by no more than 2 cm per month. By the age of one year, the head circumference should be 1 cm less than the chest circumference.

To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes a comprehensive examination for the baby, which includes:

• Ultrasound of the brain (or neurosonography). This method can be used until the child’s fontanelles close. Using ultrasound, dilation of the ventricles of the brain, the presence of tumors or hemorrhages, and malformations of the central nervous system are detected. The procedure is absolutely safe for children, so it can be used repeatedly if necessary.
• MRI and CT. The thickness of the membranes of the brain and the expansion of its ventricles are determined.
• Electroencephalography. Disturbances in brain activity are identified.

Any other methods of brain research (radioisotope scanning, angiography) are not used in children.

Treatment methods

The disease must be corrected. If treatment is not started in time, the consequences of hydrocephalus in newborns will not be long in coming. The child’s brain will not be able to develop normally, which will lead to mental retardation and disability.

The choice of treatment tactics is determined by a neurosurgeon. If the disease practically does not manifest itself at all and progresses slightly (compensated form), the child is prescribed dehydrating medications. They remove excess fluid from the body and reduce the formation of cerebrospinal fluid. The baby is constantly monitored, periodically monitoring his condition with repeated ultrasounds and CT scans of the brain.

But most often, hydrocephalus in newborns has to be treated surgically. The purpose of the operation is to divert cerebrospinal fluid from the ventricles of the brain to other cavities of the body.

There are two options for surgical intervention:

• Ventriculo-peritoneal shunt (VPS)

A valve drainage system is installed under the child's skin, through which excess cerebrospinal fluid drains into the abdominal cavity. The system consists of thin silicone tubes that are invisible from the outside. The device only starts working when intracranial pressure rises above normal. A special valve is provided for artificial regulation of the volume of cerebrospinal fluid.