By: SOUVIK MANNA
Hand anthropometry is of great importance due to the complex structure and functional dexterity of the human hand and plays a vital role in biomechanics, prosthetic advancements, military ergonomics, wearable technology design, and biometric systems. It is also crucial in medico-legal investigations, especially in human identification, highlighting the importance of region-specific morphometric data in forensic sciences. The present study involved 80 healthy Hindu-Bengali individuals (50 males and 30 females) aged 18-70 years. Hand length and width were measured using a sliding caliper and hand index was calculated using a standard formula. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 26.0 with statistical tests including independent t-tests and Pearson’s correlation coefficient, with statistical significance considered at P<0.05. The study found that dolichocheiric hand type predominated in males, while hyperdolichocheiric was more common in females. Statistical analysis revealed that hand length and width were significantly greater in males (p < 0.05) than in females. Sexual dimorphism was evident in the measured parameters. The hand index showed a positive correlation between the right and left hand in both sexes, highlighting the importance of hand measurements in identifying gender and racial identity in anthropological analysis.
