- 1). Familiarize yourself with the long bones. In humans, each limb has three bones: The thigh and upper arm have one bone each (the femur and humerus, respectively), and the forearm and lower leg have two each (radius and ulna in the forearm, tibia and fibula in the lower leg).
- 2). Record maximum length of each long bone. Place the bone on the osteometric board so that the shaft (the long, straight portion of the bone) is as close to parallel with the sides of the board as possible, with one end lightly touching the fixed head of the board. Slide the foot of the osteometric board upward until it just touches the other end of the bone. Note where the foot of the board crosses the board's ruler and record this value to the nearest millimeter.
- 3). Record the maximum diameter of the head of the humerus and head of the femur. The head is the round part forming the ball of the ball-and-socket joints of the hip and shoulder. Hold the bone by the shaft. With the other hand, dial open the calipers. Move the calipers over the head so that the teeth are just above and below what appears visually to be the widest point of the head. Slowly dial the calipers closed until the teeth just touch the head. Gently shift the angle of the calipers by turning your wrist both ways, as well as tilting the calipers toward and away from you, to ensure that no diameter on the head is wider. Record the maximum diameter from the calipers' ruler to the nearest millimeter for all four bones.
- 4). Record the epicondylar breadth of the humerus and femur. The condyles are the large, rounded areas of bone at the elbow and knee. Holding the bone by the shaft, stand the bone upright on the osteometric board. Place the most laterally projecting point on one condyle against the head of the board. Gently slide the foot of the board upward until it just touches the most laterally projecting point on the other condyle. Record the epicondylar breadth to the nearest millimeter for all four bones.
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