Demi-span as a measure of skeletal size

Abstract

Height and demi-span (sternal notch to finger roots with arm out-stretched laterally) were mesured using standard procedures in 125 normal young to middle-aged European subjects. Highly significant correlations (r = 0.74) were obtained between the two variables. The reliability of all measurements was good. The standard deviation of the differences on retest was always less than .+-. 0.5 cm. Demi-span is therefore a practical alternative measurement of skeletal size.