Estimation of Stature from Metacarpal Lengths

Abstract

Formulae for the estimation of stature from metacarpal lengths are presented. Two samples of metacarpal specimens were employed in the analysis: one of 212 individuals from the Terry Collection, and one of 55 modern males, all of whom had measured statures. One measurement, the midline length, was taken on each metacarpal. Stature was regressed on the basis of the metacarpal length to derive equations for the Terry Collection individuals. Comparisons between the Terry Collection males and the modern sample showed the latter to have longer metacarpals and greater statures. The Terry equations were tested using the modern male sample. In spite of the differences noted, the Terry equations perform acceptably on modern individuals. The performance was slightly better for whites than for blacks. Since the female equations were not tested, they should be employed with greater caution.

Early Pleistocene third metacarpal from Kenya and the evolution of modern human-like hand morphology

“…2A). Most likely, KNM-WT 51260 belonged to a relatively tall individual, as metacarpal length correlates reasonably with arm length and thus with stature (32,33). Applying stature regression equations developed for modern human males (32, 33) yields stature estimates of more than 167 cm.…”

Interpretation of ante-mortem stature estimates in South Africans

“…A multitude of regression formulae for South Africans (e.g., [1], [2], [3] and [4]) and other populations (e.g., [5], [6], [7] and [8]) have been developed for this purpose. An estimate of ante-mortem stature, along with the assessment of age, sex and race is given in almost all forensic reports on unknown human skeletal remains [9].…”

Excavations at Mlambalasi Rockshelter: a Terminal Pleistocene to Recent Iron Age Record in Southern Tanzania

“…Osteometric sex estimation techniques applied to the mandible (Saini et al 2011) and metacarpals (Scheuer and Elkington 1993;Stojankowski 1999) yielded conflicting results, possibly related to the overall small size of the skeleton. Although no complete long bones are present, stature estimates based on the diameter of the femoral head (Simmons et al 1990) and complete left first and right fifth metacarpals (Meadows and Jantz 1992) suggest a height of 155.3 to 166.3 cm with an average of 160.7 cm for a male and 150.8 to 163.2 cm with an average of 156.9 cm for a female. Body mass estimates using the maximum diameter of the femoral head were equally diminutive: 43.67 to 44.58 kg for a male and 44.58 to 50.79 kg for a female, with averages of 44.13 and 47.69 kg, respectively.…”