Sexual dimorphism in ratio of second and fourth phalanges and metacarpals: A retrospective study
Abstract
Introduction: There are many features in humans which exhibit sexual dimorphism. A unique feature showing this gender differentiation is the ratio of lengths of index and ring fingers. Sexual dimorphism in finger lengths has been studied across the globe, wherein ethnic and racial variations in digit ratio have been reported. Our studywas conducted in the central Indian population, where no such study was done till now.
Aim: To study the prevalence of sexual dimorphism in central Indian population using ratio of phalangeal and metacarpal length of index and ring fingers.
Methodology: This is a retrospective radiological study done on left hand of 42 males and 49 females of age 20 years and above. The lengths of phalanges and metacarpals of index and ring fingers were measured on X rays films and their ratios were taken and analyzed statistically.
Result: There were no statistically significant variations observed in the ratios of the index and ring fingers between the two sexes in the data taken from central Indian population.
Downloads
References
2. Manning JT, Scutt D, Wilson J, Lewis-Jones DI. The ratio of 2nd to 4th digit length: a predictor of sperm numbers and concentrations of testosterone, luteinizing hormone and oestrogen. Hum Reprod. 1998 Nov;13(11):3000-4.
3. Brown WM, Finn CJ, Cooke BM, Breedlove SM. Differences in finger length ratios between self-identified "butch" and "femme" lesbians. Arch Sex Behav. 2002 Feb;31(1):123-7.
4. McFadden D, Shubel E. Relative lengths of fingers and toes in human males and females. Horm Behav. 2002 Dec;42(4):492-500. [PubMed]
5. Lutchmaya S, Baron-Cohen S, Raggatt P, Knickmeyer R, Manning JT. 2nd to 4th digit ratios, fetal testosterone and estradiol. Early Hum Dev. 2004 Apr;77(1-2):23-8. [PubMed]
6. Muller DC, Baglietto L, Manning JT, McLean C, Hopper JL, English DR, et al.; Second to fourth digit ratio (2D:4D), breast cancer risk factors, and breast cancer risk: A prospective cohort study; Br JCancer; 2012 Oct;107 (9):1631–6.
7. Buck JJ, Williams RM, Hughes IA, Acerini CL. In-utero androgen exposure and 2nd to 4th digit length ratio-comparisons between healthy controls and females with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Hum Reprod. 2003 May;18(5):976-9. [PubMed]
8. J. T. Manning, B. Fink, N. Neave, and N. Caswell; Photocopies yield lower digit ratios (2D : 4D) than direct finger measurements; Archives of Sexual Behavior; 2005June; 34( 3): 329–333.
9. Peters M, Mackenzie K, Bryden P. Finger length and distal finger extent patterns in humans. Am J Phys Anthropol. 2002 Mar;117(3):209-17. [PubMed]
10. Paul SN, Kato BS, Hunkin JL, Vivekanandan S, Spector TD. The big finger: the second to fourth digit ratio is a predictor of sporting ability in women. Br J Sports Med. 2006 Dec;40(12):981-3. Epub 2006 Sep 28. [PubMed]
11. Manning JT, Bundred PE; The ratio of second to fourth digit length and age at first myocardial infarction in men: a link with testosterone?; Br J Cardiol.; 2001 Jan; 8(12):720–723.
12. Gobrogge KL, Breedlove SM, Klump KL. Genetic and environmental influences on 2D:4D finger length ratios: a study of monozygotic and dizygotic male and female twins. Arch Sex Behav. 2008 Feb;37(1):112-8. [PubMed]
13. Oladipo GS, Coker T, Anugweje KC, Abidoye AO; Study of some anthropometric parameters of Itsekiri and Okpe ethnic groups of Delta State South - South Nigeria;Int J Community Res; 2013;2:77-80.
14. Geetha K.N., Patel S.C., Chavan L.N., Shinde C; Hand Digit ratio (2D:4D) and sexual dimorphism in different age groups; Journal of Clinical Research Letters; 2012 April; 3(1):16-18.
15. Jain M, Dhall U, Pandey S, Jain S; Second to Fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) in north-west Indians: Sexual dimorphism; Journal of Anatomical society of India; 2012 Dec; 61(2); 242- 245
16. Agnihotri AK, Jowaheer AA, Soodeen-Lalloo AK. Sexual dimorphism in finger length ratios and sex determination - A study in Indo-Mauritian population. J Forensic Leg Med. 2015 Oct;35:45-50. doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2015.07.006. Epub 2015 Aug 4.
17. Mularczyk M, Ziętek-Czeszak A, Ziętek Z. [Assessment of sexual dimorphism of finger length ratio (2D:4D) ]. Ann Acad Med Stetin. 2014;60(1):47-51. [PubMed]
18. Vujović S, Popović S, Mrvošević Marojević L, Ivović M, Tančić-Gajić M, Stojanović M, Marina LV, Barać M, Barać B, Kovačević M, Duišin D, Barišić J, Djordjević ML, Micić D. Finger length ratios in Serbian transsexuals. Scientific World Journal. 2014;2014:763563. doi: 10.1155/2014/763563. Epub 2014 May 20.