Stature and sex estimation from shoulder breadth, shoulder height, popliteal height, and knee height measurements in a Bangladeshi population

Abstract

Forensic anthropologists and medico-legal professionals encounter a range of cases in which the body has been severely disintegrated, dismembered, or mutilated beyond recognition. The most critical goal of any medico-legal inquiry is to be able to identify unknown human remains. To establish the biological profile in forensic investigation, estimations of stature and sex from a range of human body dimensions are fundamental issues. This study developed formulae to determine the stature and sex from a range of body measurements in Bangladeshi adult populations based on a sample of 300 healthy young Bangladeshi individuals (150 males and 150 females) aged ranging from 21 to 30 years. Stature and four body measurements (sitting shoulder height, shoulder breadth, sitting popliteal height, and sitting knee height) were measured for each individual. Linear and stepwise multiple regression analyses were utilized in stature estimation and logistics regression analysis was used to determine the sex of the individuals. This study found a good correlation between the stature and all parameters except for shoulder breadth. The left sitting knee height was the significant parameter in stature estimation because of the higher value of R, R2, and a lower SEE value. Moreover, the right-sitting popliteal height revealed a higher sex estimation accuracy rate than other parameters. The sex estimation accuracy varied from 78.000% to 97.000%. The findings of this study have great value in forensic science and research in determination of stature and sex estimation in the adult population of Bangladesh.

Keywords

• Stature and sex estimation
• Shoulder breadth
• Shoulder height
• Knee height
• Popliteal height