Death and Decomposition Practice Test

Long bones carry the most information about overall height because their length correlates strongly with body size. When estimating height from the lower leg, the bone used is the tibia, or shinbone. The tibia’s length has a reliable, well-documented relationship with stature, and it’s typically well-preserved in skeletal remains, making it practical to measure. Using this measurement, practitioners apply standard formulas to estimate height.

The other bones listed aren’t the ones used for lower-leg height estimation: the femur is in the thigh (upper leg), while the radius and humerus are arm bones. They can be used for height estimates if those bones are the only ones available, but for lower-leg height, the tibia is the appropriate choice.