ASHA K.R*., LAKSHMI PRABHA R**., Gangadhar. M. R***
*Assistant Professor, Dept of Anatomy, **Professor & Head, Dept of Anatomy, Sri Siddhartha Medical College, Tumkur, Karnataka, India, ***Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, Manasa Gangothri, Mysore.
ABSTRACT
Determination of sex from extremities plays an important role in identifying the deceased in forensic examinations. The dimensions of the hand have been used for the determination of sex, age and stature of an individual. The purpose of the present study was to determine sex by hand dimensions among 200 South Indian and North Indian subjects. Statistical analysis indicated that bilateral variations were insignificant for all measurements. The average hand length and breadth were found to be about 1 cm greater in males as compared to females. Hand index was calculated and has been used for the determination of sex. Hand index more than 42 was suggestive of males and less than 42 is that of females. These differences were insignificant when values were compared between subjects of the same sex in South Indian and North Indians.
Key words: : Sex, Hand dimensions, Determination, Indian population.
INTRODUCTION Identification of an individual is the main objective
of forensic investigations. Identification of an individual from dismembered, mutilated and fragmentary remains is a challenge to forensic experts;
in such cases, complete identification becomes unlikely and partial identification assumes importance to proceed into further investigations (Tanuj Kanchan et al 2008).The primary factors that are helpful in the identification include age, sex and stature ( Vij K 2001).
Many factors like racial, ethnic and nutritional factors play an important role in human development and growth; therefore different nomograms become necessary for different population ((Srinivasan 2002).
An attempt has been made in the present study to find out the gender difference in the hand dimensions and the hand index in South Indian and North Indian population using statistical considerations.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The present study was undertaken in the Department of Anatomy, Sree Siddhartha Medical
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Asha. K. R.,
Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Sri Siddhartha Medical College, Tumkur, Karnataka, India.
Email:[email protected].
Ph.9886051964
College, Tumkur, amongst 200 right handed medical students, aged between 20-30 years after taking informed consent to participate in the study. The student population of Tumkur comes from all over India. The division of subjects into South and North Indians was based on their region of origin and taking into account other zonal divisions of India (Srinivasan 2002).The total sample consisted of 50 South Indian females, 50 South Indian males, 50 North Indian females and 50 North Indian males. All the subjects included in the present study were healthy and free from any apparent symptomatic deformity of the spine or foot.
In the present study, both hands of each individual were measured using sliding calipers in centimeters to the nearest millimeter. All the measurements were taken by single observer in order to avoid inter- observer bias.
To measure hand dimensions, subjects were asked to place their hands prone with fingers extended and adducted on a flat horizontal surface.
Length of hand was measured using sliding calipers (graduated in mm) as the straight distance between the midpoint of a line joining the two stylion ( styloid process of radius and ulna) and dactylion ( the lowest point on the anterior margin of the middle finger).
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Breadth of hand was measured using sliding calipers (graduated in mm) as the straight distance between metacarpal radiale (the most medially placed point on the head of second metacarpal on the stretched hand) and metacarpal ulnare (the most laterally placed point on the head of fifth metacarpal on the stretched hand). Measurements were taken to accuracy of 0.1 cm (Singh IP and Bhasin MK 1968).
Hand index was calculated by dividing the hand breadth by hand length and multiplied by 100.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
Analysis was done using Statistical software namely SPSS 15, Stata 8.0, MedCalc 9.0. and Systat 11.0.
The data were statistically analyzed to determine sex by measurements of hand.
RESULTS
Descriptive statistics for bilateral hand dimensions among South Indian and North Indian males and females are shown in Tables 1 and 2.
In table 1, mean values of hand length among South Indian and North Indian males was more than 19 and in females it was less than 18.
In Table 2, mean values of hand breadth among South Indian and North Indian males was more than 8 and in females it was less than 7.
Table 3 depicts the mean values of hand index. In South Indian and North Indian males, both right and left hand indices were more than 42. In South Indian and North Indian females, both right and left hand indices were less than 42.
Statistical analysis indicated that bilateral variation was insignificant for the measurements of hand length and breadth in both sexes. Hand dimensions on both sides were significantly greater (p<0.001) in males when compared with females. No statistically significant differences were found in the mean hand dimensions of South and North Indian population when compared for the same sex.
Table 1. Measurements (cm) of Hand Length in Males and Females (n=200)
Study group Hand length Minimum Maximum Mean SD
SIM Right 16.90 21.50 19.44 1.13
Left 17.10 21.00 19.38 1.02
NIM Right 16.40 23.10 19.53 1.16
Left 16.80 23.20 19.46 1.12
SIF Right 14.60 19.80 17.47 1.00
Left 14.50 19.80 17.47 1.01
NIF Right 15.40 19.50 17.80 0.93
Left 15.50 19.40 17.74 0.90
Abbreviations used in tables: South Indian males (SIM), North Indian males (NIM), South Indian females (SIF) and North Indian females (NIF).
Table 2. Measurements (cm) of Hand Breadth in Males and Females (n=200)
Study group Hand Breadth Minimum Maximum Mean SD
SIM Right 7.20 9.00 8.25 0.41
Left 7.30 9.00 8.19 0.37
NIM Right 6.90 9.40 8.28 0.46
Left 7.00 9.00 8.17 0.43
SIF Right 6.30 8.00 7.31 0.32
Left 6.50 7.90 7.23 0.31
NIF Right 6.50 8.60 7.33 0.43
Left 6.60 8.40 7.27 0.41
Table 3. Bilateral Hand index in SIM, NIM, SIF and NIF (n=200)
Study group Right Hand index (mean) Left Hand index (mean)
SIM 42.53±2.46 42.32±2.17
NIM 42.46±2.26 42.03±2.09
SIF 41.95±2.49 41.47±2.48
NIF 41.25±2.46 41.02±2.22
DISCUSSION
Sometimes, fragments of soft tissues are found disposed off in the open, in ditches, or rubbish dumps, etc. and this material is brought to forensic pathologist for examination (Mant Keith A 1995). One of the important objectives of examination is identification.
The present study was aimed to establish the co- relation between hand index and sex.
The present study strongly confirms sexual dimorphism in the hand length and breadths as earlier studies reported that these are larger in the males than in the females. These findings were consistent with the study conducted by Krishan 2007 and Agnihothri et al 2008. An association of Y-chromosome with stature has been documented. In addition, age of puberty being two years later in males as compared with females gives them additional time for growth (Malek et al 1990).
Insignificant bilateral variation for the measurements of hand length and breadth in both sexes as found in the present study differed from that of Rastogi et al 2008 in which right-hand dimensions were larger than that of left hand. Statistically significant differences in the mean stature and hand dimensions of South and North Indian population when compared for the same sex are compatible with those arrived at by Rastogi et al 2008. This suggests that in persons of different population groups (belonging to the same race) geographical variations do not have much influence on body proportions.
Recent studies by Agnihothri et al 2008 and Danborno et al 2008 showed that there was a consistent difference in the range of hand index between males and females across ages 18-35 years. The present study which was also conducted in a similar age group (20- 30 years) in South and North Indian population showed a slight deviation from their studies. In our study hand index in males was found to be more than 42 and in females, it was less than 42. Therefore, 42 can be used as a deviation point for the determination of sex. In the studies by Agnihothri et al 2008 conducted on Mauritius population, the deviation point was 44 and in Donborno’s study on Nigerian population it was 47. In Indian studies by Kanchan T et al 2009 the sex differences were found to be statistically significant only for the hand index on the left side and morphometric parameters of the hand showed considerable sexual dimorphism while the hand index remained poor sex indicator. In contrast the present study indicated a positive correlation between an individual’s hand dimensions including the hand index and gender. These sex differences were statistically significant bilaterally. Thus sex can be
determined by hand index with fair accuracy. The results of this study are however applicable only when an intact hand examined.
CONCLUSION
Determination of sex of an individual from the mutilated or amputated limbs plays a conspicuous role in facilitating personal identification in incident of murder, accidents or natural disasters. In the present study it is concluded that hand index is highly reliable for the determination of sex in forensic examinations and anthropological studies. The study thus has medicolegal implications when a dismembered hand is brought for examination.
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