Abstract: Objective: The purpose of this study was to obtain regression equations for estimating stature and discriminating gender of Yi adults in Sichuan province, China from measurements of the hand. Method: A total of 460 (male 354, female 106) healthy adults aged between 20 and 50 years were sampled. For each individual, the length of the right hand and the five fingers, width of the hand and true stature were measured. Results: Twenty-two regression equations for stature estimation from the hand measurements, and two equations for discriminating by gender (including statistical significance) were established. Conclusion: The equations determined from this work can be used for estimating stature and discriminating gender, but the results of stature estimation from the length of the hand, and gender discriminating from the length and width of the hand were better than the other analyzed features.

Key words: Hand length; Hand width; Finger length; Stature estimation; Gender; Forensic anthropology; Yi people