Abstract: Object: The purposes of this study was provide measurements of lumbar vertebrae and to obtain regressive equations for estimating the stature of Chinese male on the basis of these data. Methods: lumbar vertebrae of 88 individuals with known age and sex, as well as stature were measured according to Martin's method. The measurements are as follow: 1. anterior height of the vertebral body (X1 ), 2. posterior height of the vertebral body(X2 ), 3. upper antero-posterior diameter of the vertebral body (X3 ), 4. lower anteroposterior diameter of the vertebral body (X4 ), 5. upper trans- verse diameter of the vertebral body (X5 ), 6. lower transverse diameter of the vertebral body (X6 ), 7. middle transverse diameter of the vertebral body (X7 ), 8. antero-posterior diameter of the vertebral foramen (X8 ), 9. transverse diameter of the vertebral foramen (X9 ), 10. left thickness of pedicle of vertebral arch (X10 ). The correlation and regression analysis between the measurements and the stature were made by SPSS soft ware.
Results:
1 The regression equation of the anterior height of the vertebral body (X1 ) L1-5.
Y =1015.715 +5.425X1 (L1 ) +8.997X1 (L2 ) +6.592X1 (L3 )+4.784X2 1(L4 ) -1.601X2 1(L5 )
R =0.531 SE=57.1031
2 The regression equation of the posterior height of the vertebral body (X2 ) L1-5. Y =1165.735 +3.161X2 (L1 ) +8.558X2 (L2 )
-4.292X2 (L3 ) +7.678X2 (L4 ) +2.575X2 (L5 )
R =0.446 SE=59.8705
Conclusions: The equations can be used for estimating the stature of Chinese males.

Key words: Lumbar vertebrae; Stature estimation; Human identification; Forensic anthropology