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No sexual dimorphism in human prenatal metacarpal ratios
Stefan Van Dongen1, Frietson Galis2, Clara Ten Broek1
1Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
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.
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