Determining Height from Bone Length It is possible

Determining Height from Bone Length • It is possible to determine the height of an individual based on the length of one bone. • This is useful to know because sometimes all that police recover is a few bones.

Background Knowledge • In this activity you will look at the bones in the arm. – Which are? • And the bones in the leg. – Which are?

Activity 1. Break into groups of 4. 2. Take your measurements: Ø 2 of you will measure the arm bones Ø 2 of you will measure the leg bones 3. Use the equations to convert to the total height. 4. Then compare your calculated results to your actual results and conclude with the accuracy. Reflection • How accurate are your calculations to the actual height of the person?

Important Equations: Arms • Males – Height = (length of radius x 3. 3) + 34 – Height = (length of humerus x 2. 9) + 27. 8 • Females – Height = (length of radius x 3. 3) + 32 – Height = (length of humerus x 2. 8) + 28. 1

Important Equations: Legs • Males – Height = 2. 42 x (tibia length in cm) + 81. 93 – Height = 2. 32 * (femur length in cm) +65. 53 (+/-3. 94) • Female – Height = 2. 90 x (tibia length in cm) + 61. 53 – Height = 2. 47 * (femur length cm) + 54. 10 (+/- 3. 72).

Conclusion • What are your conclusions regarding the level of accuracy you can obtain in predicting height based on one or two bones?

• An anthropologist finds a 29 -cm humerus in a remote site at a mountain resort. There was a missing person’s report for a woman (approx. 5’ 5’’ tall) placed just about a week ago. Could this bone possibly belong to her? Why or why not?