Body Height Estimation Based on Tibia and Femur Length in Different Stature Groups

Stature provides one aspect of an individual’s physiognomy and one piece of information that may be an aid in individual identification. Most methods of estimating stature from the skeleton are based on the long bones of the upper and lower extremities. Others deal with stature estimation from parts of the skeleton, either single bones or combinations of bones. Yet others estimate stature from incomplete bones, normally parts of long bones. Length of femur and tibia can be measured with the help of the Vernier caliper. Bones recovered in forensic situations may either have been lying on the surface, in the ground, or in water. The six long bones of the skeleton are generally composed of a shaft forming a tube of compact bone with a marrow cavity along the middle of the tube, whereas the interior of the bone ends has a rigid, spongy structure, covered by a thin layer of compact bone.  Stature increases during childhood and through puberty until all bone growth has ceased after puberty.