Estimation of height from the foramen magnum in the adult population – a preliminary study

Stature estimation is an important early step during forensic analysis of human skeletal remnants. The aim of the present study was to obtain a linear regression formula for estimating stature from foramen magnum measurements of a central Indian population. The study includes 81 male and 55 female cadavers brought for medicolegal autopsies. The linear regression equations were derived from length (FML), breadth (FMB) and area (FMA) of foramen magnum. The regression model provided a 95% confidence interval of ± 11.1 cm, ± 10.4, and ± 10.5 cm and a correlation coefficient of 0.69, 0.75, and 0.74 for length, breadth, and area of male foramen magnum, respectively. Similarly, the regression model provided a 95% confidence interval of ± 13.4 cm, ± 11.4 cm, and ± 12.8 cm and a correlation coefficient of 0.45, 0.68, and 0.57 for length, breadth, and area of female foramen magnum. Compared to other studies, regression formulae based on the measurements of the foramen magnum provided slightly larger standard errors than that based on long bone lengths. The study indicates that foramen magnum measurements in relation with body stature show strong positive correlation, relatively moderate reliability in estimating stature, and some forensic value.