Stature Estimation from Hand and Foot Dimensions Reveals a Similar Allometric Relationship in Sudanese Arabs and Somalis

Abstract

Population-specific anthropometric standards serve as a guide to forensic practitioners for identification purposes. However, few studies have observed on whether the relationship between stature and body parts differs among populations. Our aim is to first assess the validity of using hand and foot dimensions to estimate stature in two geographically similar but linguistically different populations, Sudanese Arabs and Somalis, and then secondly to assess whether the relationship between hand and foot dimensions and stature differ among these populations. Standard anthropometric measurements were used to assess sexual dimorphism. Regressions were performed to establish the relationship between body parts and stature and were compared among the populations to describe the allometry. Comparisons between regression coefficients reveal that 1) stature has the same relationship with hand and foot lengths in each population and 2) the relationship between stature/hand length and foot length is the same (isometric) in both populations. These results suggest a close affinity between the two groups. Hand and foot length can be used to estimate the stature of individuals but not to identify sex or differentiate one population from the other.