No sexual dimorphism in human prenatal metacarpal ratios

Early Hum Dev. 2014 Mar;90(3):157-60. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2014.01.004. Epub 2014 Jan 28.

¹ Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
² Department of Pathology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; NCB Naturalis, Leiden, The Netherlands.
³ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, Institute of Dentistry, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
⁴ Department of Pathology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Abstract

Background: Ratios of digit lengths are studied intensively as markers of prenatal sex hormone levels.

Aim: Study sexual dimorphism in ratios of metacarpals, which received less attention.

Methods: We studied six metacarpal ratios in deceased human fetuses of ages 10 to 42weeks.

Results and conclusion: We found no indication of a sexual dimorphism at this early stage of development.

Keywords: 2D:4D ratio; Metacarpal ratios; Prenatal development; Sex differences.