ESTIMATION OF STATURE FROM FOREARM & HAND LENGTH IN WEST BENGAL POPULATION

Abstract

Background: In the present scenario of increasing crime rate the identification of an individual has become immensely important. Measurement of different body parts of human body to estimate stature plays a vital role for establishing individual identity, especially in those cases where mutilated body parts are found or mere body fragments discovered. Here comes the role of anthropometry, where length of hand, forearm, foot etc plays a vital role for estimation of stature of a human being. Objective: The objective of the present study is to find out the relation between length of forearm with hand and stature in west bengal population. Method:  For the purpose of study 300 young and healthy medical students both male and female, aged between 18 to 25 years, without any known disease or body deformity, were examined anthropometrically to measure their respective height with stadiometer and length of forearm with hand by vernier slide caliper. Result: The stature varied from 157.48 cm to 169.75 cm with mean value 167.0 cm and 159.0 in case of male and female subject respectively. On the other hand length of forearm with hand varied from 40.1 cm to 46.4 cm with mean value 46.2 and 43.2 respectively. Conclusion: Study results shows that length of forearm and hand poses significant correlation with stature.So, it may be desirable to apply this knowledge especially in cases of fragmented body parts or mutilated bodies.

Keywords: Length of hand, stature, anthropometrical measurement