The average adult human head weighs between 10 and 11 pounds (4.5 and 5 kilograms). This weight includes the skull, brain, teeth, skin, muscles, and other tissues. Variations can occur based on factors such as age, sex, and overall body size. Understanding typical head weight is relevant in fields such as medicine, ergonomics, and safety equipment design.
Knowledge of typical cephalic mass plays a critical role in various disciplines. In medicine, this information can be relevant for diagnostic purposes, treatment planning (especially in areas like neurosurgery), and understanding biomechanics related to head and neck injuries. Ergonomics utilizes this data to design safer and more comfortable headrests, helmets, and other support systems. Furthermore, accurate weight estimations are crucial for developing effective safety equipment, including helmets for sports and occupational hazards. Historically, anthropometric data, including head weight, has been vital for understanding human evolution and physical variation across populations.