213J Contemp Med Sci | Vol. 6, No. 5, September-October 2020: 213–217 Original ISSN 2413-0516 Introduction Anthropology is a science study about characteristics of the human body skeleton.1 The central axis of anthropology is estimating race, gender, and the other human features from the body skeleton.2 Anthropometric data are collected from the dead or alive samples.3 Physical characteristics of the human skeleton depend on the race, age, sex, and lifestyle.4 The fore- arm is one of the important parts in the upper extremity and the hand portion is the most mobile part, and plays an import- ant role in the movement of the upper limb.5 Through measur- ing the length of some parts, like forearm and hand, estimating the body size and height can be occurred.6 We can use these indicators to determine gender, sex, and environmental con- ditions.7 Moreover, for designing pre-fabricated upper limb prosthesis or designing the ergonomic instrument in different nations, having information about the length of the different parts of the body such as upper limb, can be useful.2Therefore, this study was carried out for measurement of forearm and hand length in the students of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences. Materials and Methods In this analytical–descriptive study, 160 students (age range: 18–22) were included and the samples were randomly selected. Exclusion criteria were subjects who had a fracture in the fore- arm and hand bones. A measurement protocol to guide the project team colleagues were used.2 Anatomical position and body landmarks recognition were taught to all members in the measurement team as a training program. Through the indirect measurement methods, superficial forearm and hand size of 160 samples were evaluated. Measured parameters included: stature, weight, forearm, and hand length (the apparent size of the forearm was measured from the tip of the olecranon to the point between the radius and ulnar styloid). The hand length measurement was done from the midpoint between the radius and ulnar styloid to the tip of the middle finger. Plastic meters and scales were used for measurements. Statistical Analysis SPSS 22.0 software was used for statistical analysis. The associ- ation of parameters was assessed by Pearson’s correlation coef- ficient r. Regression equations were computed to examine the relationship between the stature and hand length, in addition to the stature and forearm length. The P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results In this study, 160 samples were examined. The mean of stature, weight, forearm, and hand length for all samples are mentioned in Table 1. Table 2 shows the comparison between males and females stature in addition to the other parameters. Moreover, it demonstrates the significant differences between two gen- ders in all parameters (P=0.000). Statistically, significant cor- relation was observed among stature and other parameters in all cases (P=0.000) (Table 3). Our study demonstrated an obvi- ous correlation and significant differences among the stature The stature estimation from students’ forearm and hand length in Iran Babak Ebrahimi1, Soheila Madadi2, Leila Noori3,1, Shadan Navid4, Melika Darvishi5, Tahereh Alizamir6* 1. Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran. 3. Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences. 4. Department of Anatomy, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran. 5. Department of Radiology, Paramedical faculty, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. 6. Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. Corresponding author: Tahereh Alizamir (Email: alizamirt@yahoo.com) (Submitted: 08 July 2020 – Revised version received: 21 August 2020 – Accepted: 17 September 2020 – Published online: 30 October 2020) Abstract Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the stature from student’s forearm and hand length in Hamadan University of Medical Sciences. Methods: For measurements, the forearm and hand length of 160 students were measured. The range of the sample ages were between 18 and 22 years, selected randomly. In this descriptive and analytical study, the cluster sampling method was used to select the subjects. For anthropometric measurements, we used metal and plastic tape, goniometer, caliper, and scale. The height and length of the forearm and hand were measured separately. Results: The mean ± SD of the stature were 164.435±5.072 cm and 180.446±5.569 cm, in females and males, respectively. The mean ± SD of the forearm length were 24.906±1.347 cm and 27.751±1.294 cm, in females and males, respectively. The mean ± SD of hand length were 17.356±2.223 cm and 19.418±0.888 cm, in females and males respectively. Besides, there was a correlation between height and forearm length of all cases. Also, this correlation was seen for the stature and hand length. Conclusion: According to our study, forearm and hand length have correlation with the stature, so they can be used as factors for stature estimation. Keywords: Anthropology, Stature, Forearm length, Hand length, Hamadan 214 Original Stature estimation from students’ forearm and hand length Babak Ebrahimi J Contemp Med Sci | Vol. 6, No. 5, September-October 2020: 213–217 and all parameters in males and females (P=0.000), except the comparison between the stature and hand length in females, which was not meaningful (P=0.102) (Table 4). The analysis of the linear regression with the stature as the dependent vari- able and weight as independent variable showed for all sam- ples. Also, the regression model is meaningful in both males and females (P=0.000, P=0.016, P=0.007, respectively) (Table 5). The analysis of the linear regression for study population with stature as the dependent variable and hand length as independent variable demonstrated that the regression model is meaningful in total samples and males (P=0.000) but it is not meaningful in females (P=0.102) (Table 6). The analysis of the linear regression for study population with stature as the dependent variable and forearm length as independent variables exhibited that the regression model is meaningful in total samples, separately (P=0.000) (Tables 7, 8). Correlation between stature (cm) with weight (kg), hand length (cm) and forearm length (cm), in total samples, both in males and females are shown in Figs 1, 2, and 3. Discussion For the forensic experts, identification of the corpse is an important challenge, and estimation of the stature can be useful for this subject.8 In this study, we examined 160 healthy male and female participants. Our findings indicated a higher height for males as compared with females which is in the line with Ilayperuma et al. results.9 Linear regression is considered as a suitable method for estimating the relationship between stat- ure and body fragments.10 In our study, it was shown that there was a strong positive correlation between forearm length and stature, and a moderate positive correlation between the stat- ure and hand length. (Stature=66.268+4.033×forearm length, SEE= 0.230 and R2= 0.661) and hand length (Stature= 122.327+2.725×hand length, SEE= 320 and R2= 0.314) was found for all cases based on linear regression equation. An anthropological study on the sample of a Turkish adult popu- lation reported that the correlations between stature and hand length for both genders are statistically signif- icant which is in the same line with our results.11 Our statistical analy- sis showed a significant correlation among the forearm, hand length, and the examinee’s stature. The mean stature were 180.446±5.569 and 164.435±5.072 for males and females, respectively. The stature factor between the two sexes was statistically significant (P=0.000). We observed remarkable differences in forearm and hand length between male and female groups. Akhlaghi et al. (2012) in their study reported the correlation between forearm length and stature (r=0.580).12 However, in their study, the correlation coeffi- cient value was lower than our results which can be con- sidered as the differences between distinct Iranian ethnic groups.12 Gender and stature determination are among the most important issues in the context of forensic science.13 In the case of human remains or incomplete skeleton, parts of the body such as forearm or hand bones can be helpful to find more evidence.14 According to the findings of the pres- ent study, it is concluded that forearm and hand length are longer in males compared with females in the Iranian pop- ulation. However, the effective role of nutrition and genetic factors should be considered.14 Another study determined, the relationship between stature and long bones through the radiographic images of individuals, whose results are in accordance with our findings.15 Mccluskey et al. showed that athletes with longer limb had high speed and in this study, all examined parameters showed a significant dif- ference between the sexes.15 Accordingly, an appropriate strategy seems to be necessary for product designing based on natural differences among body dimensions in males and females.15 Consequently, anthropometric indexes can provide supportive information for designing of equip- ment.16In conclusion, our results showed that there is a sta- tistically significant correlation among stature, forearm, and hand length for students of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences. Furthermore, the forearm length is a more predic- tive factor than hand length in stature estimation. Table 1. Comparison of mean of stature and other parameters for total subjects (N=160). Parameters N Mean ± SD Stature 160 172.440±9.627 Weight 160 68.776±11.974 Hand Length 160 18.387±1.979 Forearm Length 160 26.328±1.941 Foot Length 160 25.170±1.864 Table 2. Comparison of mean of stature and other parameters between males and females (N=80). Parameters N Mean ± SD P-value Significance Male Female Male Female Stature 80 80 180.446±5.569 164.435±5.072 0.000 Sig. Weight 80 80 75.413±11.098 62.138±8.729 0.000 Sig. Hand Length 80 80 19.418±0.888 17.356±2.223 0.000 Sig. Forearm Length 80 80 27.751±1.294 24.906±1.347 0.000 Sig. Foot Length 80 80 26.566±1.337 23.775±1.123 0.000 Sig. Table 3. Correlation between stature and other parameters in total sample (N=160). Variables Pearson correlation (r) P-value Significance Stature 1 - - Weight 0.593 0.000 Sig. Hand Length 0.560 0.000 Sig. Forearm Length 0.813 0.000 Sig. Foot Length 0.849 0.000 Sig. 215 Original Stature estimation from students’ forearm and hand lengthBabak Ebrahimi J Contemp Med Sci | Vol. 6, No. 5, September-October 2020: 213–217 Table 4. Correlation between stature and other parameters in between males and females (N=80). Male Female Variables Pearson correlation (r) P-value Significance Pearson correlation (r) P-value Significance Stature 1 - - 1 - - Weight 0.269 0.016 Sig. 0.301 0.007 Sig. Hand Length 0.546 0.000 Sig. 0.184 0.102 NS Forearm Length 0.619 0.000 Sig. 0.449 0.000 Sig. Foot Length 0.576 0.000 Sig. 0.657 0.000 Sig. Table 5. Linear regression analysis for study population with stature as dependent variable and weight as independent variable. Population R R² Adjusted R² SE B P-value Total (160) 0.593 0.351 0.347 3.596 139.657 0.477 0.000 Male (80) 0.269 0.072 0.060 4.172 170.273 0.135 0.016 Female (80) 0.301 0.091 0.079 3.937 153.566 0.175 0.007 Table 6. Linear regression analysis for study population with stature as dependent variable and hand length as independent variable. Population R R² Adjusted R² SE B P-value Total (160) 0.560 0.314 0.310 5.926 122.327 2.725 0.000 Male (80) 0.546 0.298 0.289 11.563 113.975 3.423 0.000 Female (80) 0.184 0.034 0.021 4.442 157.147 0.420 0.102 NS Table 7. Linear regression analysis for study population with stature as dependent variable and forearm length as independent variable. Population R R² Adjusted R² SE B P-value Total (160) 0.813 0.661 0.659 6.060 66.268 4.033 0.000 Male (80) 0.619 0.383 0.375 10.632 106.489 2.665 0.000 Female (80) 0.449 0.202 0.192 9.501 122.302 1.692 0.000 Table 8. Linear regression analysis for study population with stature as dependent variable and foot length as independent variable. Population R R² Adjusted R² SE B P-value Total (160) 0.849 0.720 0.719 5.483 62.137 4.382 0.000 Male (80) 0.576 0.332 0.323 10.250 116.735 2.398 0.000 Female (80) 0.657 0.431 0.424 9.172 93.946 9.965 0.000 216 Original Stature estimation from students’ forearm and hand length Babak Ebrahimi J Contemp Med Sci | Vol. 6, No. 5, September-October 2020: 213–217 Fie 1. Correlation between stature (cm) with weight (kg), hand length (cm), forearm length (cm) and foot length (cm). Fie 2. Correlation between stature (cm) with male weight (kg), hand length (cm), forearm length (cm) and foot length (cm). 217 Original Stature estimation from students’ forearm and hand lengthBabak Ebrahimi Acknowledgments The authors of the paper sincerely thank their co-participants and Hamadan University of Medical Sciences. References 1. Jaberi KR, Kavakebian F, Mojaverrostami S, Najibi A, Safari M, Hassanzadeh G, et al. 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