title: Estimation of stature using hand and foot dimensions in Slovak adults.
abstract: Hand and foot dimensions used for stature estimation help to formulate a biological profile in the process of personal identification. Morphological variability of hands and feet shows the importance of generating population-specific equations to estimate stature. The stature, hand length, hand breadth, foot length and foot breadth of 250 young Slovak males and females, aged 18-24 years, were measured according to standard anthropometric procedures. The data were statistically analyzed using independent t-test for sex and bilateral differences. Pearson correlation coefficient was used for assessing relationship between stature and hand/foot parameters, and subsequently linear regression analysis was used to estimate stature. The results revealed significant sex differences in hand and foot dimensions as well as in stature (p<0.05). There was a positive and statistically significant correlation between stature and all measurements in both sexes (p<0.01). The highest correlation coefficient was found for foot length in males (r=0.71) as well as in females (r=0.63). Regression equations were computed separately for each sex. The accuracy of stature prediction ranged from ±4.6 to ±6.1cm. The results of this study indicate that hand and foot dimension can be used to estimate stature for Slovak for the purpose of forensic field. The regression equations can be of use for stature estimation particularly in cases of dismembered bodies.
authors.affiliation: Comenius University in Bratislava Science Park, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Mlynská dolina, 84215 Bratislava, Slovak Republic. Electronic address: uhrova.p@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Uhrová
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina, 84215 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Radoslav
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beňuš
authors.affiliation: Department of Criminalistics and Forensic Sciences, Academy of Police Forces, Sklabinská 1, 83517 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Soňa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Masnicová
authors.affiliation: Waikato Clinical School, University of Auckland, Hamilton, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Obertová
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina, 84215 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kramárová
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina, 84215 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Klaudia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kyselicová
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina, 84215 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dörnhöferová
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina, 84215 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bodoriková
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina, 84215 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Neščáková
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D001827:Body Height; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D018732:Forensic Anthropology / Q000379:methods; D006225:Hand / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D017524:Slovenia; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anthropometry of foot; Anthropometry of hand; Linear regression equations; Stature