AbstractBackground: It is necessary to establish a biological profile of an individual by estimation of age, race, sex and stature to determine the individuality of an individual. It is considered as Big Four parameters in Anthropology.
Aim and Objective: To obtain a specific regression equation for stature estimation from middle finger length among male and female population of Nellore district of state Andhra Pradesh
Type of Study: Descriptive cross sectional study with analytical and comparative components.
Place of Study: At Narayana Medical College, Chinthareddy Palem, Nellore State Andhra Pradesh by the Department of forensic medicine and Toxicology.
Material and Method: The measurement was taken in standing position with stabilizationof hand on table. The caliper was horizontally placed along the ventral surface of the hand.The fixed part of the outer jaw of the caliper was applied to the proximal crease of middle
finger and the mobile part of the caliper was approximated to the tip of the middle finger and measurement was taken and the measurement was obtained up to one decimal place.
Result and Discussion: The mean middle finger length of 8.031 (SD±0.542)cm on right side as compared to 8.036 (SD±0.536)cm on left side indicate that the descriptive parameters are more on left side as compared to right side in males. Similarly in females also the mean middle finger length of 7.578 (SD±0.427) cm on right side and 7.586 (SD±0.428) cm on left side indicates the same thing that the parameters are more on left side. Our observation are in accordance to findings of a study conducted by Rahule et. al. in Indian population where good correlation existed between right middle finger length and stature in males and females and higher correlation coefficient in females than males similar to our study.
Conclusion: Middle finger length provides good reliability in Stature estimation, by deriving the population specific linear regression equations; as well the study reveals that the middle
finger length can be used successfully to predict stature in the population of Nellore region of Andhra Pradesh state.
Keywords: Middle Finger Length; Stature; Regression