Human Body Surface Area Calculator

Mosteller Formula:

\[ BSA = \sqrt{\frac{W \times H}{3600}} \]

Body Surface Area (m²):

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1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

Definition: BSA is the calculated surface area of the human body, used in many medical measurements including medication dosages and metabolic studies.

Purpose: It provides a more accurate measurement than body weight alone for many medical purposes.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Mosteller formula:

\[ BSA = \sqrt{\frac{W \times H}{3600}} \]

Where:

\( BSA \) — Body Surface Area (square meters)
\( W \) — Weight (kilograms)
\( H \) — Height (centimeters)

Explanation: The product of weight and height is divided by 3600, then the square root is taken to calculate BSA.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is used to calculate medical indicators like cardiac index, chemotherapy dosages, and glomerular filtration rate.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the patient's weight in kilograms and height in centimeters. All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use BSA instead of body weight?
A: BSA correlates better with many physiological processes that depend on surface area rather than weight.

Q2: What's the average BSA for adults?
A: Average is about 1.7 m² for adult men and 1.6 m² for adult women.

Q3: Are there other BSA formulas?
A: Yes, including Du Bois, Haycock, and Gehan-George formulas, but Mosteller is simplest and widely accepted.

Q4: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It's clinically validated and accurate for most purposes, though individual variations exist.

Q5: Can this be used for children?
A: Yes, the Mosteller formula is appropriate for all ages.