Thigh Length: Stature Ratio of the Yoruba Ethnic Group in Nigeria
This study was carried out to determine the average value for the stature, thigh length and thigh length to stature ratio of the Yoruba ethnic group. It was also carried out to determine the correlation between the stature and thigh length, and to establish a formulae for estimation of height using thigh length of the adult Yoruba ethnic group, as well as to determine if there are sexual dimorphism in these parameters. Seven hundred and twenty subjects (720 Yoruba's) 360 Yoruba males and 360 Yoruba females were used for this study, between the age range of 18 to 50 years.The location where this study was carried out were: University of Lagos Yaba, Lagos State College of Education Isolo, Ikotun Community and Ijegun Community Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma and university of Port Harcourt.The morphological measurements were stature (height) and thigh length. The mean and standard deviation of the stature, thigh Length and Thigh length: Stature Ratio for males were 172.78±7.01cm, 43.82±2.68cm and 25.35±0.955cm and while for the females, it was 167.22±6.19cm, 43.62±2.75cm and 26.07±1.11cm .It was observed that the Yoruba males had a significantly higher height than the Yoruba females (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the Yoruba males thigh length and the females thigh length (p>0.05).There was a significant difference between the thigh length to stature ratio of the Yoruba males and female subjects. The Yoruba females had a significantly higher thigh length to stature ratio than the Yoruba males (p<0.05) .A regression formula for estimation of stature was established from the thigh length of the Yoruba subjects. When comparing the result in this study and works of previous authors, there were ethnic and racial differences in these parameters. This study has provided reference data for the Yoruba ethnic group. It will be useful to the anthropologist and the forensic scientist.
Key Words: Anthropologist, Stature, thigh length, Yoruba