The Estimation of Stature from Anthropometric and Photogrammetric Measurements of the Limbs

Abstract

Equations are presented for estimating the stature of a child from measurements of some limb segments (upper limb, upper arm, forearm, leg, hand or foot). Some 2378 sets of limb measurements were taken on boys and 1531 sets on girls within the age range four to 19 years. All were healthy participants and the three longitudinal studies were carried out at the Institute of Child Health, University of London. Both photogrammetric and anthropometric techniques of measurement were used.

Simple and multiple regression analysis was used to create 38 photogrammetric and 36 anthropometric equations, giving the most likely estimated value for stature, together with the residual standard deviation from which confidence limits were calculated. Inclusion in the equation of several limb measurements improves the accuracy of such estimation. The errors in estimation using the present equations were significantly less than those associated with corresponding equations found in the literature and in current use.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Boyd

J. D.

Trevor

J. C.

(1953) Problems in reconstruction, race, sex, age and stature from skeletal material. 7(1), 133–52. In: Modern Trends in Forensic Medicine, Ed. Keith

Simpson

. London, Butterworth and Co. Ltd.

Dupertuis

C. W.

Haden

J. A.

(1951) On the reconstruction of stature from long bones. Am. J. Physical Anthropology 9, 15–54.

Dupertuis

C. W.

Tanner

J. M.

(1959) The pose of the subject for photogrammetric anthropometry, with special reference for somatotyping. Am. J. Physical Anthropology 8, 27–48.

Harrison

J. M.

Marshall

W. A.

(1970) Normal standards for the relationship between the length of the limbs and of limb segments in young British women, a photogrammetric study. Human Biology 42, 90–104.

Keen

E. N.

(1953) Estimation of stature from long bones, a discussion of its reliability. J. For. Med. 1, 46–51.

Manouvrier

(1892) La determination de la taille d'aprés les grands os des membres. Membrès de la société d'Anthropologie 4, 347–402.

Marshall

W. A.

Attallah

N. L.

(1979) Relationship between photogrammetric and anthropometric limb measurements in boys and girls aged 4–15 years. Ann. Human Biol. 6, 279–84.

Marshall

W. A.

Harrison

J. M.

(1971) Normal standards for the relationship between the length of the limbs and of limb segments in young British men, a photogrammetric study. Human Biol. 43, 526–35.

Marshall

W. A.

Tanner

J. M.

(1969) Variation of the pattern of pubertal changes in girls. Arch. Dis. Childhood 44, 291–303.

10.

Marshall

W. A.

Tanner

J. M.

(1970) Variation in the pattern of pubertal changes in boys. Arch. Dis. Childhood 45, 13–23.

11.

Moore

Hindley

C. B.

Falkner

(1954) Longitudinal research in child development and some of its problems. Brit. Med. J. 2, 1132.

12.

Pearson

(1899) IV. Mathematical contribution to the theory of evolution; V. On the reconstruction of stature of prehistoric races. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society (Series A) 192, 169–244.

13.

Rollet

(1888) De la Mensuration des Os Longs des Membres dans ses Rapports avec l'Anthropologie, la Clinique et la Medicine Judicaire. Lyons, Storck.

14.

Tanner

J. M.

(1962) Growth at Adolescence. Oxford, Blackwell Scientific Publications.

15.

Tanner

J. M.

Weiner

J. S.

(1949) The reliability of the photogrammetric method of anthropometry, with a description of a miniature camera technique. Am. J. Physical Anthropology 7, 145–86.

16.

Trotter

Gleser

G. C.

(1952) Estimation of stature from long bones of American whites and negroes. Am. J. Physical Anthrology 10, 463–514.

17.

Trotter

Gleser

G. C.

(1958) A re-evaluation of estimation of stature based on measurements of stature taken during life and of long bones after death. Am. J. Physical Anthropology 16, 79–123.