ABSTRACT
Previous work from the United States has shown close correlation between an individual's size and weight and predetermined measurements taken from his or her footprints. This study investigated the situation in a group of United Kingdom subjects, for which there is at present little data. Walking and standing footprints, fleshed foot measurements and stature were obtained from 105 adult volunteers from the staff and students of the United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals, London. The footprints were measured using predetermined landmarks and the results analysed to investigate the significance of the parameters in a forensic context. Inter-observer and intra-observer errors were within acceptable limits. Regression equations were calculated for foot length from various parameters measured on a footprint. Topinard's finding that foot length represents between 14.9%-18.1% of stature in a given individual was confirmed. Footprint length showed a normal distribution in both sexes but male footprint length was greater than female footprint length for any given height. This study provides a quantitative method that could be used both with partial footprints and in the absence of dermatoglyphics to assist in the identification of an individual in a forensic context.
Subject(s)
Body Height , Body Weight , Dermatoglyphics , Expert Testimony/legislation & jurisprudence , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Predictive Value of TestsSubject(s)
Age Determination by Teeth , Archives , Cause of Death , Child, Preschool , History, 19th Century , Humans , LondonABSTRACT
Sex determination using metacarpals and the first proximal phalanx was carried out on a sample (n = 60) of documented sex. Six measurements were taken on each of metacarpals 1 to 5 and the first proximal phalanx. Regression equations were calculated for determining sex from the bones. The equations were then applied to a second sample (n = 20) also of documented sex to establish the degree of accuracy they produced in assigning sex. The equations for metacarpal 1 produced the highest degree of correct sex determination and overall the degree of accuracy ranged from 74% to 94%.
Subject(s)
Bone and Bones/pathology , Hand/pathology , Metacarpus/pathology , Sex Determination Analysis/methods , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Anthropometry , Cadaver , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
This paper describes an attempt that was made to confirm the suggestion that limb bone length may be a good indicator of perinatal age. Gestational (menstrual) age was regressed on: (i) the lengths of the ossified shafts of the femur, humerus and radius of 17 subjects of mixed sex aged between 27 and 46 weeks; and (ii) the femur, tibia, humerus, radius and ulna of a second, larger, sample of 65 subjects (29 male; 36 female) aged between 24 and 40 weeks. Age was regressed on single bones and combinations thereof, e.g. humerus, radius and ulna. The data were analyzed both in their raw form and as logarithms, the latter yielding very slightly, but not significantly, better results than the former in the case of sample (ii) but not in (i).
