Bone Measurement
“How To” Guide
2 ways to measure bones
• Measure lengths and widths
• Measure angles
Inside Measurement
Nasal Width
• Measure at widest spot
Measuring with Calipers – inside measurements
• place calipers inside space
• spread out until touch both edges of object
• read bottom row labeled ‘inside’
Reading Calipers: Inside Measurement
Second # is the first spot
bottom and top lines
match up. Read as a
decimal. = .1
Measurement
40.1 mm
First # is where
0 lines up. = 40
You try…
What is the inside measurement reading?
Answer:
35.1mm
Nasion
Nasal spine
Outside Measurement
Nasal Height
• Nasion to Nasal Spine
Measuring with Calipers – outside measurements
• place calipers on outside of area
• bring in until touch both edges of object
• read top row labeled ‘outside’
Reading Calipers: Outside measurement
First # is where
0 lines up. = 40
Measurement
40.1 mm
Second # is the first
spot bottom and top
lines match up. Read
as a decimal. = .1
You try…
What is the outside measurement reading?
Answer:
10.1mm
Measurement with a protractor
2. 0 line along one side of angle
1. Dot directly under 90 at vertex
of angle
3. Measurement value where
angle’s other side crosses
protractor
Answer: 120 degrees
You try….
What is the measurement of
this angle?
Answer: 70 degrees
Pelvic measurement: sub-pubic angle
• dot of protractor on pubic
symphysis where bones meet
Pubic symphysis
ramus of
L. ischium
• 0 line along ramus of
left ischium
• read measurement on ramus of
right ischium
Answer: 77 degrees
Sources
Ward’s Natural Sciences. 2002. Sherlock Bones: Identification of skeletal remains.
p.10,11,12, 16, and pelvis, skull