Various Methods for Measuring the Geometrical Properties of the Long Bone Cross Section with Respect to Mechanics

Abstract

Owing to the recent development of various kinds of equipment for the measurement of irregular figures, papers dealing with the long bone cross section related to mechanics are increasing in the field of anthropology. However, there have been few explanations of the actual methods, equipments and equations for measuring these properties. This paper explains briefly the geometrical properties of the cross section in relation to mechanics as well as their actual use in functional morphology related to anthropology and shows various methods and equations for the actual measurement of these geometrical properties. Some of the equations presented in this paper have never or rarely been published before.