Objectives: To promote the further research on body stature estimation and the innovative applications based on the distances between the anatomical landmarks on body torso surface.
Methods: A specification for the collection of distances between the anatomical landmarks on body torso surface was established. The data of 933 cases of adult population in Yangtze River Delta region were collected. Multiple linear regression method was used to statistical analyse and establish the regression equation of stature estimation.
Results: A regression equation about 5 variables including gender （x₁）, cervical vertebrae-coccyx line （x₂）, sterna-pubis line （x₃）, distance between acromion and iliospinale anterius （x₄） and shoulder breadth （x₅）, and stature （y） was established, y=105.406+5.414 x₁+0.436 x₂+0.286 x₃+0.225 x₄+ 0.193 x₅.
Conclusions: The method is suitable for the rapid, simple and accurate estimation of stature for the forensic experts.
Keywords: body height; cervical vertebrae-coccyx line; distance between acromion and iliospinale anterius; forensic anthropology; shoulder breadth; sterna-pubis line; torso.
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