Middle finger length--a predictor of stature in the Indian population.

Stature is an important indicator for identification. There are numerous means to establish stature and their significance lies in the simplicity of measurement, applicability and accuracy in prediction. The present study was conducted on 500 north and south Indian subjects in Manipal, India, to establish the stature of an individual using the middle finger length. Measurements were analysed statistically to establish the relationhip between a person's middle finger length and their stature. The study shows that the middle finger length bears a significant relation to stature and can be an important tool for stature estimation. Significant differences in measurements and formulae for males and females were found. These differences were insignificant when values were compared between subjects of the same sex in north and south Indians and also between the dominant and non-dominant hand.