Proportionality of the middle segments of person’s free limbs

Abstract

Background. To identify gender differences in the proportionality of the bones of the forearm and lower leg in relation to the body length of adults. Material and methods. Using sets of forearm and tibia bones from 78 skeletons of adults with known body length, sex and age, the absolute and relative (related to body length) sizes of the forearm and tibia bones were determined using direct osteometry. Results. The average body length for men is 167.5 cm, for women – 158.0 cm. The length of the ulna is 261.4 mm on the right and 259.8 mm on the left, its indices are 15.6% on the right and 15.5% on the left; in women, these parameters are respectively 242.6 and 240.6 mm, 15.4 and 15.2%. For the radius in men: 241.2 and 259.8 mm, 14.4 and 14.3%, in women – 220.2 and 217.8 mm, 13.9 and 13.8%. For the tibia in men – 389.7 and 389.9 mm, 22.4 and 22.5%, in women – 354.6 and 354.3 mm, 22.0% on the right and left. For the fibula in men 377.8 and 378.8 mm, 21.7 and 21.8%, in women – 342.7 and 343.1 mm, 21.3% on the right and left. Conclusions. Sex differences in absolute and relative bone sizes, trends in bilateral symmetry, variability of traits and correlations were revealed.

Keywords

• body proportions
• forearm bones
• leg bones