Sex Determination from Hand and Foot Dimensions in a North Indian Population

Abstract

Hands and feet are often recovered from the site of natural as well as man-made disasters because of bomb blasts, train accidents, plane crashes, or mass homicides. This study is intended to establish standards for determination of sex from the dimensions of hands and feet in a North Indian population. The data for this study comprise 123 men and 123 women aged between 17 and 20 years from the "Rajput" population of Himachal Pradesh in North India. Four anthropometric measurements viz. hand length, hand breadth, foot length, and foot breadth have been taken on both sides of each subject following international anthropometric standards. The hand index (hand breadth/hand length × 100) and the foot index (foot breadth/foot length × 100) were calculated. Sectioning points and regression models are derived for the hand and foot dimensions and the derived indices. The hand and foot dimensions show a higher accuracy in sex determination by sectioning point analysis when compared to hand and foot index. Of the hand and the foot dimensions, hand breadth and foot breadth showed better accuracy in sex determination. Hand index and foot index remain poor sex discriminators in the study.

Index and ring finger ratio- a morphologic sex determinant in South-Indian children

“…It is not uncommon to find the peripheral parts of the body such as hand and foot in mass disasters, and assault cases where the body is dismembered to conceal the identity of the victim. When an individual hand is recovered and brought for examination, somatometry of the hand, osteological and radiological examination can help in the determination of primary indicators of identification such as sex, age and stature [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Accurate sexing of the human remains primarily narrows down the pool of possible victim matches and thus helps the investigation.…”

Stature Estimation from Footprint: A Study on Central Indian Population

“…At the age of 18 years, the adult stature and foot size are attained its full growth. Therefore, individuals selected for this study were above 18 years [14].…”

“…Stature estimation is an important constraint in identification of mutilated and skeletal remains which could be helpful in the investigation of the identity of victims of mass disasters and fatal assaults cases [9]. Some previous studies have shown the relationship between various parts of the body with the stature and sex [10][11][12][13][14][15]. In forensic investigations, sex, age, and stature of an individual can be determined by the measurement of hand and foot dimension [10][11][12][13][14][15].…”

“…Some previous studies have shown the relationship between various parts of the body with the stature and sex [10][11][12][13][14][15]. In forensic investigations, sex, age, and stature of an individual can be determined by the measurement of hand and foot dimension [10][11][12][13][14][15]. Determination of stature is a major concern in forensic medicine and forensic anthropology which establishes the personal identity of the victims as often required [16].…”

Computer plantography as a diagnostic method for congenital clubfoot in children

“…Этому способствуют колоссальная вариативность формы стопы, отсутствие четких представлений об анатомической и функциональной норме сто-пы, расплывчатость понятия о функциональной недостаточности стопы, а также сложность ре-гистрации параметров функции стопы, которые связаны с ходьбой человека [3]. Поэтому сохра-няет актуальность определение индивидуаль-но-типологической изменчивости морфологии и функции интактной стопы.…”