ESTIMATION OF TOTAL LENGTH OF HUMERUS FROM ITS PROXIMAL AND DISTAL SEGMENTS

BACKGROUND: The present study was focussed on proximal and distal segments of humerus and by using their measurements one can estimate the total length of humerus. The aim of the present study was to estimate the total length of the humerus from the measurements of its proximal and distal segments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 246 adult dry Humerus of unknown sex from various Medical colleges of Gujarat were studied. Maximum length and measurements of 12 fragments of the humerus (proximal = 7; distal = 5), named P1-P7 and D1-D5, were obtained by means an osteometric board and a vernier calliper. RESULTS: Correlation coefficient (r) was made to correlate each fragment with total length of the humerus. In right humerus, large correlation were observed with P1, P4, P5, P6, P7 (proximal fragments) and D1, D2, D3, and D4 (distal fragments). In left side, P1, P3, P6, P7 (proximal fragments) and D1, D2, D3 (distal fragments). CONCLUSION: The conclusion of our study shows that one can estimate the total length of the humerus from the measurements of its proximal and distal segment. The study is also useful for anthropologists, archaeologists and forensic investigators.