136 LABORATORY MANUAL OF ANTHROPOMETRY 



The Fibula 



I. MEASUREMENTS 



1. Absolute length; taken with the osteometric board. Only to be 

 taken in bones with the two ends perfect. OB. 



2. Circumference of the middle of the shaft. TM. 



3. Least circumference. TM. 



1. Caliber index (3 : 1) 



II. INDICES 



least circumference X 100 



absolute length 



This bone has thus far been studied anthropometrically but very little 

 and yet, as the bone is easily modified by the usual position of the leg, 

 both in sitting, standing, and walking, it is very probable that striking 

 differences, both morphological and cultural, will be revealed to future 

 study. It is an excellent bone to recommend for future work. Thus, as 

 a beginning, Martin has noticed its absolute straightness in Fuegians 

 in contrast to the curve seen in Europeans, the concavity being forward. 

 Klaatsch correlates a straight fibula with a large degree of tibial rever- 

 sion, the two occurring together in legs the feet of which rest largely 

 along their outer edges, as in apes and infants. The correction of the 

 tibia, by which the proximal end is brought forward affects also the fibula, 

 which is attached to it, bringing its proximal end also forward, and 

 giving the entire bone a light curve. There is also some variation of the 

 relative position of the two lower leg bones, as is seen by comparing on 

 several tibiaB the actual position of the facets for the fibula. Thus the 

 fibula of the Spy skeletons was placed upon the tibia more as is that of 

 the present-day Mongolian. The neandertaloid fibula seems to indicate 

 that the foot came in this species in contact with the ground more along 

 the outer edge than in modern man, and that the modern correction has 

 tended to shorten the length and reduce the caliber, of the whole bone. 



The Foot Skeleton in General* 



As the human foot has been subject to much more profound modifica- 

 tions than the hand in changing from the typical anthropoid condition, so 

 is t he study of its proportions of more importance. Many of its peculiar- 



* For the foot skeleton in general, cf . 



Volkov, Th.; Les variations squelettiques du pied chez les Primates et dans les 

 races humaincs. Bull, et Mem. de la Soc. d'Anthropol. de Paris. 1905. 



Lazarus, S. P.; Zur Morphologic des Fuss-skelets. Morph. Jahrb., Bd. XXIV, 

 1896. 



Adachi, B. und Mme. Adachi: Die Fussknochen der Japaner. Mitt, der med. 

 Fak. der Univ. Tokio. 1905. 



Uhlbach, R.; Messungen an Hand-und Fuss-skelet von Ilottentotten. Zeitschr. 

 Morph. und AnthropoL, Bd. XVI, Jan., 1914. 



