Forensic Anthropometry: Estimation of Stature from Hand Length, Hand Breadth and Foot Length in Students of Women Medical College
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65761/pjcr.2026.279Keywords:
Forensic anthropology; Stature estimation; Hand length; Hand breadth; Foot length; Anthropometry; Female medical studentsAbstract
Background: Estimation of stature is an essential component of forensic identification, particularly when complete human remains are unavailable. Anthropometric measurements of the hands and feet provide simple, economical and noninvasive methods for predicting stature. However, differences in body proportions among populations necessitate the development of population-specific regression equations.
Objective: To determine the relationship between stature and hand length, hand breadth and foot length among female medical students and to evaluate their usefulness in predicting stature.
Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study included 78 female medical students at Women Medical College, Abbottabad, Pakistan, from June to December 2025. Stature, bilateral hand length, hand breadth, and foot length were measured. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive statistics, paired-samples tests, Pearson’s correlation, and simple and multiple linear regression analyses were performed. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: A total of 78 female medical students were included in the study. Right and left hand length, hand breadth and foot length were evaluated as potential predictors of stature. The analyses were designed to identify the strongest anthropometric predictor and compare the explanatory performance of individual and combined regression models. The final descriptive statistics, correlation coefficients and regression estimates require verification from the original dataset.
Conclusion: Anthropometric measurements of the hands and feet provide a practical basis for investigating stature estimation among female medical students. Population-specific regression models may contribute to forensic identification; however, their predictive accuracy and applicability must be established through analysis and validation of the collected measurements.
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