Metacarpal bones as indicators of stature

ABSTRACT

Formulae for prediction of stature from metacarpal lengths are presented. Stature was measured in 133 [84 males and 49 females] Upper Egyptians with age range from 2 to 42 years. Radiographs of both hands of each subject were taken. The interarticular length of all five metacarpal bones was measured in each hand. A significant correlation between stature and metacarpal length was noticed in both hands and in both sexes. Regression equations were computed from each metacarpal length, by which living stature may be fairly accurately estimated in the absence of any complete long limb bones