LEGEND:
A = Number of bones
B = Length bicondylar
C = Length maximum
D = Number of cases
E = Humero-Femoral Index (H × 100)/F
F = Number of cases
G = Diameter antero-posterior at middle[52] (a)
H = Diameter lateral at middle[53] (b)
I = Index of shaft (b × 100)/a
J = Number of cases
K = Maximum (c)
L = Minimum (d)
M = Platymeric index (d × 100)/c
MALES
---------+--+-----+----+--+----+--+----+----+-----+--+----+----+----
| Right
---------+--+-----+----+--+----+--+----+----+-----+--+----+----+----
| | | | | | | | | | | N |
| | | | | | | | | | +----+----+
| A| B | C | D| E | F| G | H | I | J| K | L | M
---------+--+-----+----+--+----+--+----+----+-----+--+----+----+----
Average: | | cm. | cm.| | | | cm.| cm.| | | cm.| cm.|
Paired |12|45.2 |45.8| 8|71.8|16|2.92|2.55| 87.1|15|3.23|2.37|73.3
Total | | | | | | | | | | | | |
present|14|45.26|45.8|11|72.1|17|2.91|2.53| 87.1|17|3.22|2.35|73.1
Minimum |14|43.4 |43.8|11|69.6|17|2.5 |2.2 | 73.5|17|2.9 |2 |64.6
Maximum |14|48.1 |48.7|11|76.3|17|3.3 |2.95|100 |17|3.75|2.7 |90
+--+-----+----+--+----+--+----+----+-----+--+----+----+----
| Left
+--+-----+----+--+----+--+----+----+-----+--+----+----+----
Average: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Paired |12|45.4 |45.9| 8|71.7|16|2.9 |2.61| 89.9|15|3.33|2.38|71.6
Total | | | | | | | | | | | | |
present|15|45.82|46.3| 9|71.3| —| — | — | — | —| — | — | —
Minimum |15|43.7 |44 | 9|67.7|16|2.5 |2.25| 75 |15|2.9 |2.1 |59.5
Maximum |15|49.2 |50 | 9|75.7|16|3.3 |2.9 |107.7|15|3.7 |2.7 |93.7
---------+--+-----+----+--+----+--+----+----+-----+--+----+----+----
[52] Linea aspera midway between the two branches of the compass.
[53] Maximum.
[Illustration: BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY BULLETIN 62 PLATE 24
FUSION OF HUMERUS AND ULNA; MALE MUNSEE SKELETON, NO. 285,303,
U.S.N.M.]
LEGEND:
A = Number of bones
B = Length bicondylar
C = Length maximum
D = Number of cases
E = Humero-Femoral Index (H × 100)/F
F = Number of cases
G = Diameter antero-posterior at middle[54] (a)
H = Diameter lateral at middle[55] (b)
I = Index of shaft (b × 100)/a
J = Number of cases
K = Maximum (c)
L = Minimum (d)
M = Platymeric index (d × 100)/c
FEMALES
---------+--+-----+----+--+----+--+----+----+-----+--+----+----+----
| Right
---------+--+-----+----+--+----+--+----+----+-----+--+----+----+----
| | | | | | | | | | | N |
| | | | | | | | | | +----+----+
| A| B | C | D| E | F| G | H | I | J| K | L | M
---------+--+-----+----+--+----+--+----+----+-----+--+----+----+----
Average: | | cm. | cm.| | | | cm.| cm.| | | cm.| cm.|
Paired |13|42.1|42.65|10|72.6|13|2.58|2.35| 91.2|12|2.88|2.17|75.5
Total | | | | | | | | | | | | |
present|14| — | — |12|72.7|14|2.56|2.37| 91.6|14|2.89|2.14|74
Minimum |14|39.4 |40 |12|70.6|14| 2.3| 2 | 82.1|14| 2.5|1.85|56.9
Maximum |14|44.7 |45.1|12|74.4|14|2.95|2.6 |106.2|14|3.25|2.45|84.5
+--+-----+----+--+----+--+----+----+-----+--+----+----+----
| Left
+--+-----+----+--+-----+--+----+----+-----+--+----+----+----
Average: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Paired |13|41.9 |42.6|10|71.65|13|2.48|2.38|93.1|12|3.03|2.17|71.7
Total | | | | | | | | | | | | |
present| —| — | — | —| — | —| — | — | — | —| — | — | —
Minimum |13|39.6 |40 |10|69.4 |13|2.25| 2 | 83.3|12|2.6 |1.8 |56.1
Maximum |13|44.5 |45.4|10|73.2 |13| 3 |2.65|113 |12|3.35|2.45|87.7
---------+--+-----+----+--+-----+--+----+----+-----+--+----+----+----
[54] Linea aspera midway between the two branches of the compass.
[55] Maximum
The two lengths of the femur, the bicondylar and the maximum, differ
somewhat as a rule in favor of the latter. The difference is due
and proportional to the inclination of the axis of the shaft and
the development of the internal condyle, and ranges in different
individuals from 0.5 mm. to 15 mm. In whites in all the groups studied
it is moderate, not reaching 4 mm. in the average. In the American
negro (who often has some white blood), the disproportion between the
two lengths is slightly higher than in the whites, but additional
observations are needed. Among Indians, however, the difference is
perceptibly higher than among the whites, and is especially pronounced
among the Munsee, where it reaches the average of nearly 5 mm. in the
males (taking the mean of the two sides) and 6 mm. in the females.
As the Munsee bones are perfectly normal, the explanation of this
peculiarity must be sought either in an unusual breadth of the pelvis
or in a somewhat greater length of the neck of the femur, and may be
connected with some functional characteristic of these people, such as
possibly a more than usual prevalence of the habit of squatting.
XLV. MUNSEE AND OTHER FEMORA: RELATIONS BETWEEN THE BICONDYLAR
AND MAXIMUM LENGTH OF THE BONES
----------------------+---------+-------+---------+---------+--------
| | | United | |
| Munsee | Other | States | Italians|American
| |Indians| whites | | negro
+----+----+---+---+----+----+----+----+----+---
| M.| F. | M.| F.| M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F.
----------------------+----+----+---+---+----+----+----+----+----+---
Number of paired bones| 12| 12| 55| 22|100 | 50| 31| 8| 12|8
Average excess of the | | | | | | | | | |
maximum over the | | | | | | | | | |
bicondylar length: | | | | | | | | | |
Right, cm. |5.35|5.6 |4 |3.8|3.05|3.78|3 |2.6 |4 |3.2
Left, cm. |4.2 |6.45|4.2|3.2|2.55|3.8 |2.58|2.1 |3.25|3.5
----------------------+----+----+---+---+----+----+----+----+----+---
The difference between the maximum and bicondylar length of the femur
in some racial groups averages greater in the females than in the
males, while in others the condition is reversed. Among the Munsee the
females show the greater difference (6 mm. to slightly less than 5
mm. in the males); but this peculiarity is not shared by other Indian
groups. A condition similar to that of the Munsee exists in this
respect among the United States whites, where the difference between
the two lengths averages 3.8 mm. in the females and only 2.8 mm. in the
males; while among the Italians, and to a less extent the negroes, the
disproportion is greater in the males (Italians: m. 2.8, f. 2.35 mm;
negroes: m. 3.6, f. 3.35 mm.). The excess of the difference in males in
these groups was unexpected, the usual impression being that the axis
of the female femur is generally more oblique than that of the male;
and the more oblique the axis, the greater should be the difference
between the bicondylar and maximum length of the bone.
As to the two sides of the body, in the majority of the groups whose
femora were studied, greater average differences were found between the
two lengths of the bone on the right than on the left; in a few groups,
however, such as the Munsee, the United States whites, and the United
States negro females, the condition was reversed.
These interesting conditions and exceptions make it probable that an
extended special study of the relations of the two femoral lengths
would be well repaid by the results.
The relation in bicondylar length of the Munsee female to the male
femora is as 92.7 to 100, and practically the same result was obtained
in other Indians (92.65 to 100). In United States whites the proportion
is as 93 to 100; in American negroes, as 93.1 to 100. These are
striking similarities in people so far apart racially.