Heel–Ball index: An analysis of footprint dimensions for determination of sex
Determination of sex from the footprints recovered at crime scenes can help the investigation by narrowing down the pool of possible suspects. The present research studies the dimensions of the heel and the ball in footprints, and derives the Heel–Ball (HB) index from these foot dimensions with the...
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doaj-f80bad66661c4618bf5654697b2a2d332020-11-25T01:30:43ZengSpringerOpenEgyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences2090-536X2014-06-0142293310.1016/j.ejfs.2014.02.002Heel–Ball index: An analysis of footprint dimensions for determination of sexTanuj Kanchan0Kewal Krishan1Disha Prusty2Meghna Machado3Department of Forensic Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore (A Constituent College of Manipal University), IndiaDepartment of Anthropology, Punjab University, Chandigarh, IndiaKasturba Medical College (A Constituent College of Manipal University), Mangalore, IndiaKasturba Medical College (A Constituent College of Manipal University), Mangalore, IndiaDetermination of sex from the footprints recovered at crime scenes can help the investigation by narrowing down the pool of possible suspects. The present research studies the dimensions of the heel and the ball in footprints, and derives the Heel–Ball (HB) index from these foot dimensions with the aim to find out if the foot dimensions and the HB index exhibit sexual dimorphisms. The study was carried out on 100 individuals (50 males, 50 females) of Indian origin. Footprints were obtained from both feet of the study participants using standard techniques. Thus, a total of 200 footprints were obtained. The breadth of the footprint at ball (BBAL) and the breadth of the footprint at heel (BHEL) were measured on the footprints. The HB index was derived as (BHEL ÷ BBAL) × 100. The footprint measurements at the ball and heel were significantly larger in males on both the sides. Likewise, the derived HB index was larger in males in both feet, but the sex differences were not statistically significant. The study concludes that though footprint dimensions can be used in the determination of sex, the HB index may not be utilized in sex determination from footprints.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090536X14000161Forensic anthropologyIdentificationSex determinationFootprintsHeel–Ball index |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Tanuj Kanchan Kewal Krishan Disha Prusty Meghna Machado |
spellingShingle |
Tanuj Kanchan Kewal Krishan Disha Prusty Meghna Machado Heel–Ball index: An analysis of footprint dimensions for determination of sex Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences Forensic anthropology Identification Sex determination Footprints Heel–Ball index |
author_facet |
Tanuj Kanchan Kewal Krishan Disha Prusty Meghna Machado |
author_sort |
Tanuj Kanchan |
title |
Heel–Ball index: An analysis of footprint dimensions for determination of sex |
title_short |
Heel–Ball index: An analysis of footprint dimensions for determination of sex |
title_full |
Heel–Ball index: An analysis of footprint dimensions for determination of sex |
title_fullStr |
Heel–Ball index: An analysis of footprint dimensions for determination of sex |
title_full_unstemmed |
Heel–Ball index: An analysis of footprint dimensions for determination of sex |
title_sort |
heel–ball index: an analysis of footprint dimensions for determination of sex |
publisher |
SpringerOpen |
series |
Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences |
issn |
2090-536X |
publishDate |
2014-06-01 |
description |
Determination of sex from the footprints recovered at crime scenes can help the investigation by narrowing down the pool of possible suspects. The present research studies the dimensions of the heel and the ball in footprints, and derives the Heel–Ball (HB) index from these foot dimensions with the aim to find out if the foot dimensions and the HB index exhibit sexual dimorphisms. The study was carried out on 100 individuals (50 males, 50 females) of Indian origin. Footprints were obtained from both feet of the study participants using standard techniques. Thus, a total of 200 footprints were obtained. The breadth of the footprint at ball (BBAL) and the breadth of the footprint at heel (BHEL) were measured on the footprints. The HB index was derived as (BHEL ÷ BBAL) × 100. The footprint measurements at the ball and heel were significantly larger in males on both the sides. Likewise, the derived HB index was larger in males in both feet, but the sex differences were not statistically significant. The study concludes that though footprint dimensions can be used in the determination of sex, the HB index may not be utilized in sex determination from footprints. |
topic |
Forensic anthropology Identification Sex determination Footprints Heel–Ball index |
url |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090536X14000161 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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