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The Golden Ratio & the Human Body

By Frits Marohn

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What is the Golden Ratio?

  • The Golden Ratio is a very common proportion that can be found in many examples in nature, music, and in the this case, the Human Body.
  • Mathematically, the Golden Ratio is the quantity (a + b)/a = a/b
  • To find the exact number, put into your calculator
  • The golden ratio is the irrational number o.618. To find the reciprocal, just add one. (1.618)

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The Golden Ratio and the Human Body, w. my Hand

In point of fact, the golden ratio divides your knuckles into individual lengths according to the golden ratio, lets test it out. Here we see my hand; the distance between the top of the finder and the middle fingers knuckle is about 2.375. The distance between my middle fingers knuckle and my knuckle at the bottom of the middle finger is about 3.5. 3.375/3.5 is 0.69, which is very close to .618, the golden ratio. While this is not exact because of genetic factors, it is 0.07 points off, not bad.

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The Golden Ratio and the Human Body w. my body itself

Here is the amazing me standing straight, marking the position of my belly button. The distance between my belly button and the bottom of my feet is 46.5 inches (about). The distance between my belly button and the top of my head is the remaining 26.5 inches. (I’m 6’1) 26.5/46.5 = 0.58. Again a bit off due to genetics, among other factors, but still very close to 0.618.

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The Golden Ratio and the Human Body, w. my Face

Finally, here is my amazing face (look how enthusiastic I am). The distance between by nose and the top of my head is 5.625 inches. The measurement of my entire head is 9 inches (about). 9/5.625 = is 1.6. This is extremely close to the golden ratios’ reciprocal by about 0.01. Yet again the measurements are not 100 % exact and there are some genetic factors at work, but still very close.

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The Golden Ratio and the Human Body Conclusion

The measurements in the previous three slides prove that the golden ratio (0.618) and its’ reciprocal (1.618) shows up frequently in the way nature divides the human body. They were not 100% exact, but keep in mind there are many other factors like genetics at work here. There are many other examples you can find on your own, too.

The image in the left is the ideal human golden golden ratio proportion.