Which stature estimation method is most commonly used and relies on regression equations to predict height, often using laboratory software such as Fordisc?

• A. Anatomical method (stature)
• B. Mathematical method (stature)
• C. Proliferative method
• D. Lytic method

Answer: (B)

Regression-based stature estimation is the most commonly used approach in forensic anthropology. It predicts living height by applying regression equations that link measurements from skeletal elements—usually long bones like the femur, tibia, or humerus—to height. Software such as Fordisc already houses these regression models and applies population- and sex-specific equations to generate a height estimate. This method is favored because it uses objective, quantitative measurements and can handle incomplete remains by relying on the available bones and their regression-model relationships.

Anatomical methods, by contrast, try to reconstruct stature through proportional relationships and measurements from the skeleton, but they require more complete, intact remains and are more labor-intensive, which makes them less practical in many forensic cases. The terms proliferative or lytic methods aren’t standard approaches for estimating height; they pertain to bone pathology or growth changes and do not provide the regression-based height predictions used in routine practice.