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Metacarpophalangeal length changes in humans during adulthood: a longitudinal study
E F Harris1, K Aksharanugraha, R G Behrents
1Department of Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Tennessee, Memphis 38163.
American Journal of Physical Anthropology
|March 1, 1992
Summary
Hand bone lengths change with age, with distal phalanges growing longer and metacarpals shrinking. These age-related bone length changes show distinct patterns and sex differences in adults.
Area of Science:
- Human anatomy
- Gerontology
- Radiology
Background:
- Bone length and morphology change throughout the human lifespan.
- Understanding age-related skeletal changes is crucial for assessing health and function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate longitudinal changes in the diaphyseal lengths of 19 hand bones from young adulthood to middle age.
- To identify sex-specific patterns in these age-related bone length modifications.
Main Methods:
- Standardized radiographs of healthy American white individuals were used.
- Measurements were taken at two time points: young adulthood (approx. 21 years) and middle age (approx. 55 years).
- Longitudinal changes in bone length were analyzed across four hand bone rows: distal phalanges, middle phalanges, proximal phalanges, and metacarpals.
Main Results:
- Distal and middle phalanges significantly increased in length, while proximal phalanges showed minimal change.
- Metacarpals uniformly decreased in length.
- Males exhibited more pronounced length changes (both increases and decreases) compared to females.
Conclusions:
- Distinct age-related length changes occur in different hand bone rows, with distal phalanges elongating and metacarpals shortening.
- Sex differences in the magnitude of these changes were observed.
- Metacarpal length reduction may be linked to age-related decreases in activity, grip strength, and altered joint loading due to resorption.