International Journal of Human Anatomy

International Journal of Human Anatomy

International Journal of Human Anatomy

Current Issue Volume No: 1 Issue No: 3

Research Article Open Access Available online freely Peer Reviewed Citation

Correlation of Human Height with Hand Dimensions: A Study in Young Population of Central India

Charmode SH 1,   Kadlimatti HS 2,   Pujari D 3  

1Assistant Professor of Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, ESIC Medical College Gulbarga, Karnataka, India

2Professor of Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, ESIC Medical College Gulbarga, Karnataka, India

3Associate Professor of Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, ESIC Medical College Gulbarga, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Background and Objective

Identification of sex, age, race and stature is the most important aspect of any forensic investigation. There is a strong correlation of stature with hand dimensions and if either of the measurements is known, the other can be calculated. With this objective, the present study was designed to correlate the hand dimensions with stature of an individual and to record the standard deviation in the estimation of stature.

Methodology

This cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 1000 participants (500 male and 500 female) of ESIC Institute Gulbarga over a period of 14 months. Hand dimensions along with stature and weight were measured. Linear regression coefficient was calculated.

Results

Mean stature was 161.88 cm. Mean hand length was 18.11 cm on right side and 18.10 cm on left side. Mean hand breadth was 9.91 cm on right side and 9.83 cm on left side.

Conclusion

Highly significant difference in right and left side mean hand length and breadth measurements was observed. Also observed was a strong positive statistically significant correlation between height and hand dimensions. This data might be useful for forensic, epidemiological and anthropometric studies where stature determination is of utmost importance.

Author Contributions
Received 19 Jan 2019; Accepted 02 Feb 2019; Published 03 Feb 2019;

Academic Editor: Abdelmonem Awad Mustafa Hegazy, Professor and Former Chairman of Anatomy and Embryology, Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.

Checked for plagiarism: Yes

Review by: Single-blind

Copyright ©  2019 Charmode SH, et al.

License
Creative Commons License     This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Competing interests

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Citation:

Charmode SH, Kadlimatti HS, Pujari D (2019) Correlation of Human Height with Hand Dimensions: A Study in Young Population of Central India. International Journal of Human Anatomy - 1(3):36-44. https://doi.org/10.14302/issn.2577-2279.ijha-19-2609

Download as RIS, BibTeX, Text (Include abstract )

DOI 10.14302/issn.2577-2279.ijha-19-2609

Introduction

There are many studies undertaken to emphasize the importance of measuring the hand dimensions to estimate stature. The hand dimensions, being genetically derived varies in different races and ethnic groups and is used to determine sex, age, stature and nutritional status of an individual. Identification of sex, age, race and stature is the most important aspect of investigations in cases of mass disasters like Bomb explosions, public vehicle (plane, railway, bus, truck, car) accidents, cross border terrorist attacks, natural calamities, murders where bodies or isolated extremities are found in disintegrated, mutilated and skeletonized state1,2

Hand dimensions have been found to have a correlation with the stature of an individual. In Central India, a few studies have been conducted in past on the same subject but achieved insignificant findings due to various factors. Over all crime and accidents have grown in this region in last couple of decades. The present study was thus proposed to study hand dimensions in relation to stature and weight of an individual over a large sample size with the objective to provide statistically significant data for forensic department in this region for accurate estimation of stature from hand dimensions.

Methodology

Study Design

Descriptive cross-sectional study

Setting

Anthropometric section of Department of Anatomy, ESIC Medical College and Hospital Gulbarga, Karnataka.

Duration of Study

14 months; from 31st October 2017 to 31th December 2018.

Sample Size

1000 participants, (500 – male , 500 –female) which includes Medical, Dental and Nursing students aged between 17 and 20 years of age in ESIC Medical College Gulbarga.

Sampling Technique

Inclusion Criteria

Medical, Dental and Nursing students aged between 17 and 20 years in ESIC Medical College Gulbarga.

Exclusion Criteria

Students of NRI quota, students those with poorly defined wrist creases, deformities of vertebral column & limbs, contractures, missing limbs, history of trauma to hand and foot, with features suggestive of dysmorphic syndromes, chronic illness, hormonal therapy were excluded from the study3, 4

Sample Selection

Simple random sampling method5 was used to select 1000 participants (500 – male, 500 –female) from our Medical, Dental and Nursing students (total -3000) after satisfying the inclusion criteria. Students were easily accessible and also represented the young adult age group.

Data Collection Procedure

After receiving the Ethical Committee approval of Institutional Ethical Committee, the data collection procedure was started after taking informed consent. Tutors and junior residents took the measurements after training. Measurements were taken thrice and average was taken. Diurnal variation was avoided by taking the measurements between 1-2 pm only daily. Hand dimensions have been measured in different way in different studies but we followed the method adopted by study of Mohite et al6in Central Indian population. The measurements were taken as follows:

Hand Length

Each subject was made to place his / her hand on a white paper with the palm facing upwards keeping the fingers close together with the thumb lying comfortably but not tightly against the radial aspect of the hand and index finger Figure 1, Figure 2. A tracing of the hand was made with a lead pencil. The tracing proceeded from the radial styloid process to the ulnar styloid process. A line designated as the inter-styloid line was drawn joining the two styloid tips. Hand length (L) was measured using a Vernier Slide Calipers as the distance between the distal crease of wrist to tip of middle finger6.

Figure 1.Hand Breadth: Measured from 1st metacarpo-phalangeal joint to base of 5thmetacarpal in cm using Vernier Caliper 6.
Hand Breadth: Measured from 1st metacarpo-phalangeal joint to base of 5thmetacarpal in cm using Vernier Caliper 6.

Figure 2.Hand Breadth: Measured from 1st metacarpo-phalangeal joint to base of 5thmetacarpal in cm using Vernier Caliper 6.
Hand Breadth: Measured from 1st metacarpo-phalangeal joint to base of 5thmetacarpal in cm using Vernier Caliper 6.

Height

Measured to the nearest centimeters (cm) using a Stadiometer with subject standing erect on a horizontal resting plane bare footed having the palms of the hands turned inward and the finger pointing downwards Figure 3. The height was measured from the sole of the feet to the vertex of the head as recommended by International Biological Program 7.

Figure 3.Measurement of Height (cm) from the sole of the feet to the vertex of the head using Stadiometer.
Measurement of Height (cm) from the sole of the feet to the vertex of the head using Stadiometer.

Data Collection Tools

Vernier slide calipers, Calibrated foot board, Stadiometer, Regular weight machine, Questionnaire for collection of personal details, academic scores, Lead pencils, stationary etc.

Data collected were tabulated, graphically represented and statistically analyzed.

Results

Table 1 shows statistically highly significant positive correlation between Height and Hand length of right and left (P<0.01). Study reveals that hand length of both sides was also significantly more in those having more stature. Through the linear regression equation Height = 75.31 + 4.782 * Hand length (right) and Height = 75.26 + 4.786 *Hand length (left) we are able to estimate height by the known value of hand length.

Table 1. Correlation of hand length and stature
Variables Minimum Maximum Range Mean SD N Correlation r P value
Height (cm) 135.2 195.2 60.0 161.88 13.45 1000 -- --
Hand length right (cm) 13.9 23.8 9.9 18.11 1.38 1000 r = 0.493 P<0.01 HS
Hand length left (cm) 13.9 24.6 10.7 18.10 1.47 1000 r =0.524 P<0.01 HS
Linear Regression Equation Height = 75.31 + (4.782 * Hand length (right))
Linear Regression Equation Height = 75.26 + (4.786 *Hand length (left))

• NS= not significant, S=significant, HS=highly significant, VHS=very highly significant

There was a highly statistically significant positive correlation between height and hand breadth of right and left (P<0.01). The study revealed that hand breadth of both sides was also significantly more in those having more stature. There was a linear regression equation Height = 63.186 + 4.782 * Hand breadth (right) and Height = 68.798 + 4.786 * Hand breadth (left) Graph 1, Graph 2.

Graph 1.Correlation between Hand length and Stature
Correlation between Hand length and Stature

Graph 2.Correlation between Hand Breadth and Stature
Correlation between Hand Breadth and Stature

There was statistically very highly significant difference in hand length (right and left), hand breadth (right and left), Height and weight between males and females (P<0.001) Table 3. The hand length (right and left), hand breadth (right and left), height and weight were significantly more in males as compare females Graph 3.

Table 3. Gender wise comparison of parameters
Variables Male (N=500)Mean ± SD Female (N=500)Mean ± SD Z test value P value and significance
Hand length right 18.90 ± 1.16 17.18 ± 0.99 Z = 24.48 P<0.001, VHS
Hand length left 18.96 ± 1.27 17.11 ± 0.99 Z = 24.79 P<0.001, VHS
Hand breadth right 10.36 ± 0.68 9.39 ± 0.47 Z = 25.02 P<0.001, VHS
Hand breadth left 10.29 ± 0.69 9.31 ± 0.47 Z = 21.56 P<0.001, VHS
Height 169.28 ± 11.75 153.42 ± 9.75 Z = 22.26 P<0.001, VHS

Graph 3.Multiple bar diagram represents gender wise comparison of variables
Multiple bar diagram represents gender wise comparison of variables

Discussion

In present study, human stature ranged from 135.2 cm to 195.2 cm. mean stature was 161.88 cm with SD of 13.45. These findings correspond closely with studies done on Indian population like that of Patel et al2and Mohite et al6 and Chikhalkar et al11.

Hand length on right side ranged from 13.9 cm to 23.8 cm with mean of 18.11 cm and SD of 1.38. Hand length on left side ranged from 13.9 cm to 24.6 cm with mean of 18.10 cm and SD of 1.47. These findings correspond closely with those of Oommen et al 8,Shankar et al10, Chikhalkar et al11andKavyashree et al12, Table 1.

Hand Breadth on Right side ranged from 7.6 cm to 19.0 cm with mean of 9.91 cm and SD of 0.76. Hand Breadth on left side ranged from 7.6 cm to 19.0 cm with mean of 9.83 cm and SD of 0.77, Table 2. These findings were higher than those observed in almost all the previous studies Table 4. This is might because in present study, hand breadth was measured from 1st metacarpo-phalangeal joint to base of 5thmetacarpal; whereas in previous studies it was measured from 2nd metacarpo-phalangeal joint to base of 5thmetacarpal. Hand breadth observations matched with Mohite et al6.

Table 2. Correlation of Hand Breadth and stature
Variables Minimum Maximum Range Mean SD N Correlation r P value
Height (cm) 135.2 195.2 60.0 161.88 13.45 1000 -- --
Hand breadth right (cm) 7.6 19.0 11.4 9.91 0.76 1000 r = 0.569 P<0.01 HS
Hand breadth left (cm) 7.6 19.0 11.4 9.83 0.77 1000 r = 0.547 P<0.01 HS
Linear Regression Equation Height = 63.186 + 4.782 * Hand breadth (right)
Linear Regression Equation Height = 68.798 + 4.786 * Hand breadth (left)

Gender related comparison of hand dimensions was done and found them to be significantly more in males as compared to females. These findings matched findings from almost all previous studies as mentioned in Table 4.

Table 4. Comparison of present study with previous studies
No Study /Author Year Sample size (n) Parameters studied Observations
Mean height (cm) Mean hand length (cm) Mean hand breadth (cm)
Right M/F Left M/F Right M/F Left M/F
1 Oommen et al 8 2005 100 HL, FL NA 19.06 / 17.32 19.06 / 17.24 NM NM
2 Danborno and Elukpo 1 2007 400 H, HL, HB, FL, FB 173.7 /160.0 19.8 / 18.5 19.9 / 18.5 8.9 / 7.8 8.6 / 7.7
3 Patel et al13 2007 502 H, FL 170.9 / 156.14 NM NM NM NM
4 Rastogi et al 3 2008 500 HL, HB, H NA NA NA NA NA
5 Chikhalkar et al11 2009 300 H, W, FAL, HL, HB, FL, FB 167.26 18.93 18.93 7.53 7.53
6 Krishan, et al14 2011 246 HL, HB, FL,FB NA NA NA NA NA
7 Patel, et al2 2012 273 H, FL, FB, HL, HB, AS 164.59 17.75 NM 7.91 NM
8 Ibegbu, et al7 2013 600 children H, HL NC NC NC NC NC
9 Mohite, et al6 2015 230 H, HL, HB, FL 165.02 171.13* NM 68.04 NM
10 Bodorikova and Nescakova15 2015 250 H, HL, HB, FL, FB NA NA NA NA NA
11 Kavyashree et al12 2015 294 H, HL, HB NM 18.81 18.74 8.24 8.00
12 Dey and Kapoor 16 2015 147 HL, HB NM 19.2 / 17.3 19.0 / 16.5 8.3 / 7.57 8.18/7.45
13 Pal, et al17 2016 1662 women HL, HB, W, H, DL NM 16.3 16.31 7.05 7.03
14 Tandon et al9 2016 497 H, HL, HB, FL, FB, DL 172.7 / 157.1 19.3 / 17.3 NM 8.3 / 7.2 NM
15 Shankar et al10 2017 220 H, HL NM 18.21 / 18.81 18.35 / 18.82 NM NM
16 Kim, et al18 2018 5195 H, HL, HB, FL, FB NM NM NM NM NM
17 Samoon et al.19   2018 158 HL, H NM NM NM NM NM
18 Ibrahim et al.20 2018 350 S, HL, PL, HB, FL 175.44/158.96 20.11/18.65 20.75/18.6 8.76/7.66 8.7/7.62
19 Present study 2019 1000 H, HL, HB 161.88 18.90 / 17.18 18.96 / 17.11 10.36/9.39 10.29 / 9.31

• H- Height, HL – Hand length, HB – Hand breadth, FL – Foot length, FB – Foot breadth, PL – Palm length, DL – Digit / finger length, AS-Arm span, FAL – Forearm length, NM – Not measured NC - Not comparable, NA – Data not available.

Correlation coefficient ‘r’ calculated for hand length (right : r = 0.493, left : r =0.524) and hand breadth (right : r = 0.569, left : r = 0.547) corresponds with that calculated in studies of Chikhalkar et al11 (hand length r = 0.5902, hand breadth r = 0.6004); Patel et al2 (hand length r = 0.806 , hand breadth r = 0.467); Pal et al17 (HL r = 0.683, HB r = 0.53), Tandon et al9 (male , HL r = 0.224, HB r =0.154 ; female, HL r = 0.313, HB r = 0.272), Patel et al2 (hand length r = 0.806, hand breadth r = 0.467). A strong correlation was observed in present study between human height and hand length and breadth similar to findings of Rastogi et al3.

Linear Regression Equation calculated in the present study corresponds with that calculated in previous studies like Tandon et al9 (regression formulae for male, female and complete samples were: y = 5.79x + 124.54; y = 7.125x + 105.5 and, y = 11.36x + 76.49 respectively); Shankar et al10 (male : y = 7.96 + (0.061 *right hand length), female : y = 10.49 + (0.04 * left hand length); Mohite et al6(2015) ( h = 65.60+(0.54*head length), h = 104.03+(0.76*head breadth) ; Patel et al2 (y=59.52+5.9163* HL, y=121.69+5.4188*HB).

Conclusions

1. Highly significant difference was observed in mean hand length and breadth on both sides.

2. Positive statistically significant correlation was observed between height and hand dimensions.

3. The linear regression formula derived can be used for adult between 17-20 years but it might be of limited use for children and older people for measuring the stature and shoe design.

4. The stature of an individual can be calculated from either of the dimension of hand, i.e. length or breadth and vice versa.

5. This data might be useful for forensic, epidemiological and anthropometric studies.

Limitations

1. In the present study, age range of only 17 to 20 years was considered.

2. Only healthy individuals were included in the study. Hence the data may not be applicable students those with poorly defined wrist creases, deformities of vertebral column & limbs, contractures, those with h/o of trauma to hand and foot, those with features suggestive of dysmorphic disorder.

3. Applicability of anthropometric measurements in living & deceased individuals may practically differ.

4. The present study is a preliminary one & would be followed up by other studies to address the above limitations.

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