How Do You Use Human Bones To Determine Stature?
Human remains can tell forensic scientists a great deal about a person. Scientists can often determine sex, race, age, stature and weight from nothing but a few human bones. Determining a person’s stature from bones can help scientists identify the deceased to match the bones with possible missing-person cases and other investigations. Measure the length of the femur (the thigh bone) in centimeters. If you are doing an informal analysis, you can use a tape measure, but professional forensic scientists usually use a device called an osteometric board to measure bones. Multiply the length of the femur in centimeters by 2.6. Add 65 to the result to obtain the approximate height in centimeters of the person whose bones you are examining. Measure the length of the humerus (the bone that goes from the elbow to the shoulder) in inches. Multiply the length of the humerus in inches by 2.8 if the bones are thought to be from a female. Add 28.1 to the result to find the approximate height in inch
