OSTEOMETRY; THE MEASUREMENT OF THE BONES 131 



(pelvimeter) from the proximal articular surface (internal condyle) to the 

 extreme end of the internal malleolus. PM 



3 Physiological length; measured with calipers (pelvimeter) be- 

 tween articular surfaces and avoiding the projecting processes at either 

 end; usually taken from the deepest point in the medial articular surface 

 of the proximal end to the bottom of the hollow in the distal articular 

 surface, just within the malleolus. PM 



Lehmann-Nitsche, in his investigation of prehistoric German graves 

 (Reihen-Graber. 1895) uses the second maximum length, that is, the 

 one without the intercondylar spine. Mollison (1908) uses the first and 

 the third. Thus, for two Maori skeletons (right and left) he gives the 

 following measurements : 



1 Spino-malleolar length 318 315 341 339 

 3 Condylo-astragal length 294 294 312 311 

 ( = "physiological") 



B. Shaft. 



4 Dorso-ventral (sagittal) diameter } Taken just below the level of 



5 Medio-lateral (transverse) diameter J the tuberosity. SC or CR. 



6 Dorso-ventral (sagittal) diameter } Both taken at the level of the 



7 Medio-lateral (transverse) diameter t nutrient foramen, i.e., at about 



J the proximal third. SC or Cr. 



8 Dorso-ventral (sagittal) diameter 1 Both taken at the middle of 



9 Medio-lateral (transverse) diameter j the shaft. SC or Cr. 



10 Circumference of the shaft (middle) 



11 Least circumference of the shaft; this place will be found somewhere 

 in the distal fourth of the bone, generally about 10 cm. above the point 

 of the malleolus. TM 



12 Proximal epiphysial breadth; greatest medio-lateral breadth of the 

 proximal end of the bone; the bicondylar breadth. SC 



13 Sagittal diameter of the distal epiphysis; taken dorso-ventrally 

 across the distal end of the bone. SC or Cr. 



1 Platycnemic index (7 : 6) 



II. INDICES 



medio-lat. diam. (nutr. for) X 100 



dorso-ventral diam. (nutr. for) 



platycnemic below 63 



mesocnemic 63-70 



eurycnemic 70 + 



This index expresses the degree of platycnemy, or medio-lateral 

 flatness, of a given tibia, a peculiarity which occurs sporadically in 

 individuals of all races, and is practically constant in primitive peoples, 

 and in ancient bones in general. Thus in Neolithic bones from French 



