Structural allometry of the femur and tibia in Hominoidea and Macaca

Allometric scaling relationships between body weight, bone length, and cross-sectional dimensions of the lower limb bones which measure structural strength and rigidity (area, second moments of area) are investigated in Homo, Gorilla, Pan, Pongo, and Macaca. Cross-sectional dimensions are slightly positively allometric and highly correlated with body weight; within-bone proportional differences are largely a result of differences in relative bone length to body weight. Orangutans show the greatest deviation from general scaling relationships between lower limb bone structural strength and weight, probably due to habitual upper limb suspension. Formulas for the prediction of weight from cross-sectional dimensions are presented.