Normal length changes in hand bones during adulthood: Exploratory study of ray two

Authors: Behrents, Rolf¹; Harris, Edward¹

Source: Annals of Human Biology, Volume 14, Number 3, Number 3/May-June 1987 , pp. 277-283(7)

Publisher: Informa Healthcare

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Abstract:

A longitudinal analysis was made of total length changes of the four epiphyseal bones of ray two, the index finger, during adulthood. Matched pairs of standardized hand-wrist radiographs on 37 individuals between earlier (x´ = 22 years) and later (x´ = 54 years) adult age-grades show that the distal and middle phalanges continue to increase in overall length; the proximal phalange exhibits no change; and the metacarpal significantly decreases in size. The changes in these normal adults are also discernible in cross-sectional data but are not obvious statistically. Causes of the specific increases and decreases remain speculative.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1080/03014468700009041

Affiliations: 1: Department of Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Tennessee, The Health Sciences Center, Memphis

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