If a Tendon Raises Up When You Touch Your Pinky to Your Thumb, Here’s What It Could Mean

Evolution has left marks on our bodies, showing our connection to ancient ancestors.

One such trait is the palmaris longus tendon, a remnant from primates, found in about 90% of humans today.

Our bodies carry evidence of evolution, like goosebumps, which helped our ancestors retain heat. “When we are chilly, a muscle associated to our arm hairs contracts, forcing the hairs to stand upright.” Another trait is the palmaris longus tendon, used by primates to move through trees. To see if you have it, “place your pinky finger next to your thumb and elevate your hand slightly off the surface. If you notice a raised band in the middle of your wrist, you have a tendon attached to the still-existing palmaris longus.”

Whether you have this tendon or not, it’s a link to our evolutionary past. Those without it show ongoing human evolution. Our physical traits offer profound insights into our ancestry.