If a Tendon Raises Up When You Touch Your Pinky to Your Thumb, Here’s What It Could Mean
Evolution is an intricate saga unfolding over millions of years, shaping the remarkable complexity of the human body. While the idea of shared ancestry with other mammals is well established, direct evidence can sometimes feel abstract. Yet, our own anatomy offers vivid clues that trace back through our evolutionary past.
Our bodies harbor echoes of a tree-dwelling history and contain vestigial features that no longer serve their original purpose. Consider goosebumps, a subtle yet fascinating response inherited from our mammalian forebears. This reflex once helped to trap heat by raising body hair, providing insulation against cold. Though modern humans seldom rely on this defense, the reaction remains embedded in our physiology—a quiet legacy from times long past.
In the animal kingdom, many species display a threat posture by puffing themselves up to appear larger and ward off danger. This behavior, seen in creatures like cats, is an ancient survival tactic that, while less critical today, persists as an instinctual response.
Perhaps one of the most compelling signs of our evolutionary journey lies in a small anatomical feature: the palmaris longus tendon. Present in roughly 85 to 90% of people, this tendon once played a vital role in primates navigating life in the treetops. It aided in gripping and swinging among branches, a necessity for our arboreal ancestors like monkeys and lemurs.
As humans evolved to walk upright and inhabit the ground, the need for this muscle and tendon diminished. Over generations, nature gradually reduced its prominence, but many of us still carry this evolutionary relic.
To see if you have this ancestral tendon, try this simple test: rest your forearm palm-up on a surface, touch your pinky to your thumb, and slightly lift your hand. If a noticeable ridge appears in the center of your wrist, you possess this vestigial feature.
This small yet meaningful detail offers a tangible connection to our distant evolutionary roots, reminding us of the remarkable path that has shaped our species.
Watch the video below:
