European Journal of Anatomy

Official Journal of The Spanish Society of Anatomy
Cover Volume 14 - Number 2
Eur J Anat, 14 (2): 67-73 (2010)

Estimation of length of the ulna from the bony markers of the proximal end in South Indian population

Suja Prasannakumar1, K.G. Selvaraj2, Suganthy Rabi1, Sunil J. Holla1

1Department of Anatomy.2 Department of Biostatistics, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India.

ABSTRACT The determination of sex, race and the estimation of stature from fragment remains of bones plays an important role in identifying unknown bodies. The length of long bones such as the humerus, femur, radius, have been estimated using several bony markers and hence stature. The aim of the present study was to measure bony markers at the proximal end of ulna and to correlate these markers with length for formulating equations to estimate the length of the ulna in the South Indian population. A total of 110 ulnae (right-84, left-26) were measured. Fourteen measurements were made at the proximal end of ulna using vernier calipers and the data were analyzed statistically. The data revealed a non-significant bilateral variation in the fragmentary measures of the ulna. Regression equations were formulated for the estimation of the length of the ulna from its proximal fragments. For ulnae on the right side, the distance between the tip of the olecranon process posteriorly and the anterior-most point on the radial notch distally, and for ulnae on the left side, the distance between the tip of coronoid process of ulna to the point on the posterior aspect of the ulna at the same level and the distance between the anterior and posterior ends of the radial notch were the best markers for predicting ulnar length. The length of the ulna could be used to estimate the stature of an individual from regression equations, conversion tables and multiplying factors that are already available in forensic anthropometry. Therefore, the estimation of the length of the ulna using the bony markers at the proximal end has potential application in physical anthropology and forensic identification of an individual.

Keywords: Ulna, Proximal end, Bony markers, Length, Stature

European Journal of anatomy
ISSN 2340-311X (Online)