osteometry; the measurement of the bones 123 



B. Shaft, 

 (a) Proximal shaft diameters SC or Cr. 



5. Dorso-ventral diameter of shaft \ At a point about 3 cm. distal to 



6. Medio-lateral diameter of shaft j the lesser trochanter. 



(b) Middle shaft diameters SC or Cr. 



7. Dorso-ventral diameter of shaft \ . , , , .,,. - ,, , t , 

 _ __ 7 . ■ J . .. , \ 7 \ ± ) At the middle of the shaft. 



8. Medio-lateral diameter oj shajt J 



(c) Circumference TM. 



9. Circumference of shaft at the middle; taken at the same level as 

 the two previous measurements. 



C. Proximal end. 



V 10. Oblique proximal breadth; the greatest breadth of the proximal 

 epiphysis, measured along the axis of the head and neck. This measure- 

 ment is taken from the free surface of the head to the most lateral point 

 on the surface of the greater trochanter. SC or RC. 



11. Length of head and neck; from the free surface of the head to the 

 center of the intertrochanteric line. 



*12. Vertical diameter of the head; this is measured on the periphery 

 and is the greatest diameter possible in this plane, which is parallel 

 with the main axis of the shaft of the bone. SC. 



13. Transverse diameter of the head; similar to the last but taken 

 through a plane at right angles to the axis of the bone, and to the plane 

 used in the previous measurement. SC. 



14. Circumference of the head; taken around the largest place. TM. 



15. Vertical diameter of the neck; taken across the neck, in the same 

 plane as that used in measurement 12. SC. 



16. Transverse diameter of the neck; taken across the neck, at right 

 angles to the previous measurement; in the same plane as No. 13. SC. 



17. Circumference of the neck; naturally the maximum circumference 

 is intended. TM. 



D. Distal end. 



18. Dorso-ventral diameter of the shaft just above the condyles. For 

 this a point in the middle of the flat area proximal to the condyles should 



* Parsons (Engl. Journ. Anat., 1913-14, p. 253) finds the diameter of the head 

 of the femur of great use in sexing the bone, as this measurement is distinctly less in 

 the female. Instead of using the vertical and transverse diameters, as recommended 

 here (Nos. 12 and 13) the author uses the maximum diameter, which he finds by ro- 

 tating the slide compass around the periphery of the head until he finds it (usually 

 not far from the veitical line as here used). In English females this diameter is nearly 

 always less than 45 mm.; in males of the same people it is in excess of 47 mm. In 

 those few cases which are between these limits one cannot be certain about the sex. 

 Cf. also, Dwight, in Amer. Journ. Anat., Vol. IV, 1905, pp. 19-32. 



