How Do We Estimate Stature From Long Bones..

A close examination of a human skeleton can turn up many clues as to the victim's race, sex, age, Stature and even their occupation. Bones found on CSI (Crime Scene Investigation ) be the key to identify the Victim. Bones may tells us about - How death had happened ? When this crime happened ? etc.

• Skull , Teeth , Pelvis helps to find the sex of the victim.
• Sternum, Skull, Teeth helps to find the age.
• Long bones helps to find out the stature or the build of the person.
• Study of Wrist helps us to find the living style of the victim.

The Basic Task :

The first step an anthropologist takes during the examination of bones, is to find out whether the bones are human or animal, as sometimes certain animal bones will resemble that of human bones. Once this has been determined, the next step is finding the age of the bones by noting the growth and decay that has occurred in the bones.

Height :

Determining the height of a skeleton involves reassembling the skeleton and measuring the length of significant bones. By adding 10-11cm or four inches onto the bone length, it accounts for the missing tissue and muscle. If parts of the skeleton are missing, certain individual bones are used as a height guide. The longer the bone is, the better and more accurate the estimate will be, so the femur is measured first. The human height measures roughly two and two thirds the length of the femur, though it also depends on the race and sex of the skeleton.

How can we determine the stature ?

Laboratory Analysis :

Requirements :- Osteometric board, Multiplication factor table, long bones (which found at the Crime Scene) and plasticine.

Procedure :-

1. Take maximum length of all long bones with the help of osteometric board.
2. This maximum length now multiplied by the multiplication factor of respective bone and result was obtained in centimeters (cm).
3. Stature = Maximum Length of Bone X Multiplication Factor of that Bone.

Precautions :-

1. Measurement should be taken when the bone parallel to long axis.
2. Bone should be fixed properly with the help of plasticine.

Multiplication Factor Table :