Height Assessment Using the Length of Humerus of Selected Group of Hausa Ethnic Students in Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano State

Abstract

Height assessment from bones plays a vital role in detecting unidentified bodies and parts of bodies or skeletal remnants, the aim of this study was to estimate the height of individual using the length of humerus of selected group of Hausa ethnic Students in Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano State, Nigeria. Two hundred and two (202) subjects were selected from the various faculties of the University, using random sampling method. The age range of the participants was between 18-50 years. Ethical approval was required from the Ethical Committee of the College of Health Science of the institution before the beginning of the research, Informed consents were sought from the participants. Using a stadiometer, standing height of individual was measured to the nearest centimeter (cm) with subject standing barefoot in an anatomical position. The humeral length was measured in between two points:- Distal point-Midpoint of elbow joint and Proximal point- Acromian landmarks, line was measured and documented. Length of humerus obtained was put in regression equation for humerus estimation. From the result obtained indicated that height can be estimated from the humeral length with Coefficient of significance (R=0.628) Coefficient of determinant (R2=0.395). The present study found significant differences between the sex in both humeral length and height of the study population and resolved that the maximum height can be estimated from the length of humerus with effective precision so that may help the archaeological, anthropometric and also forensic investigations.