The heel-ball (HB) index is a metric which shows a sexual dimorphism. It may be of use if human remains are limited.
Foot breadth at the ball of foot in cm is the distance from:
(1) most medial part of the MTP joint of the toe
(2) most lateral part of the MTP joint of the fifth toe
Foot breadth at the heel in cm is the distance from:
(1) the most medial side of the calcaneus (at the medial concavity)
(2) the most lateral side of the calcaneus (at the lateral tubercle)
heel-ballidnex =
= (foot breadth at heel) / (foot breadth at ball) * 100
Interpretation:
• The foot breadth at the ball and the foot breadth at the heel tend to be larger in males because of greater stature and weight.
• The heel-ball ratio is higher in females, more notably in the right foot.
• There is considerable overlap, which limits the applicability to sex determination by itself.
|
Measure
|
Mean in Indian Males
|
Mean in Indian Females
|
|
right breadth at ball
|
9.9 cm
|
8.9 cm
|
|
left breadth at ball
|
9.9
|
9.1
|
|
right breadth at heel
|
6.4
|
5.9
|
|
left breadth at heel
|
6.3
|
5.7
|
|
right HB index
|
64.3
|
65.5
|
|
left HB index
|
63.1
|
63.7
|
