Background: Metric assessment of skeletal remains and the use of the fingers has been useful in sex estimation especially when the index and ring fingers are carefully examined for its dimensions.
Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the anthropometric variables of the index and ring finger in a= Nigerian adult population and how it can serve as a predictive marker in sex estimation.
Materials & Methods: This is a cross-sectional study which employed random sampling method to obtain participants after an informed consent. Participants were drawn from Ijaw, Hausa and Igbo ethnic groups. A total of 353 participants were recruited for this study, with 104 individuals from Igbo tribe (54 males and 54 females), 144 individuals from Hausa (72 males and 72 females) and 101 individuals from Ijaw (52 males and 49 females).
Results: The hand and finger measurements was taken using a high precision stainless steel digital sliding Vernier caliper. The male index width and length were higher than those of the females. Index width was 19.36 ± 0.08 for males and 18.04 ± 0.11 for females. Also Index length was 75.35 ± 0.49 for males and 65.67 ± 0.46 for females. 2D:4D ratio was noted to be 0.99 for both male and female population. A wide margin of difference was seen for the 2D:4D ratio among Ijaw males and females. There was also a statistically significant difference (P=0.00) for the left index dimensions, right index width for males and females, whereas those of the right index length was statistically not significant (P>0.05). It is therefore imperative to admit that the left index width and length as well as the right index width dimensions are useful and could prove accurate when the issue of sex determination arises. The hand and finger indices can be useful as a predictive marker for sex estimation since sexual dimorphism do exist.