PATTERNS OF SEXUAL, BILATERAL AND INTERPOPULATIONAL VARIATION IN HUMAN FEMORAL NECK-SHAFT ANGLES

Data on femoral neck-shaft angles were collected for 30 modern, histor ic and prehistoric human population samples, and analysed with respect to sexual dimorphism, bilateral asymmetry, geographical patterning an d general economic level. Although some samples had modest sexual dimo rphism in this angle, and some individuals exhibited clear asymmetry, there were no consistent patterns of sexual or side differences across human populations. Similarly, there was no evidence for geographic di fferences, since broad regional groups lacked significant differences and mean angles were not correlated with latitude. However, there is a significant increase in mean neck-shaft angles across populations wit h an increasingly sedentary existence and with mechanisation. The last reflects the developmental plasticity of this feature with respect to habitual load levels during ontogeny of the hip region.