ABOUT THE USE OF THE FAMOUS 'SINGLE PALMAR CREASE' AS A NOTORIOUS MARKER IN HAND DIAGNOSTICS
How to recognize a 'complete' simian line?
Usually the human handpalm is featured with 3 strong major lines (in medical science these are usually named: palmar flexion creases) on the palms of the hands. These lines are also known as: 1 - life line (radial longitudinal crease), 2 - head line (proximal transverse crease), and 3 - heart line (distal transverse crease): see left hand below.
But sometimes, the 2 horizontal transversal lines - the head line & heart line - manifest as a FUSED single line. This rather typical palmar line variant is known as the simian line (in medial science a.k.a. simian crease or single transverse crease). Usually the simian line covers the full palm from the side between the thumb and index finger, to the side below the little finger: see right hand above.
The 'complete' simian line!
A 'complete' simian line can be recognized by the presence of 5 typical characteristics.
Five hand characteristics featured with a 'complete' simian line:
• 1 - one of the two normal major horizontal creases appears to be missing!!
• 2 - the line origins in the life line (sometimes at a slightly higher point);
• 3 - the line transverses the full palm as a strong line, without making 'splittings' or 'sharp angles';
• 4 - the line reaches the other side of the palm (below or close to the palmar knuckle of the little finger);
• 5 - there is no other (likewise strong) horizontal line which ends at side of the palm below the little finger.
NOTICE: When a line has only 4 of these 5 characteristics, it is very likely not a 'complete' simian line - however, maybe it is an 'incomplete' simian line!?
Photos below are examples of a 'complete' simian line ('click' for larger version):
ADVANCED CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE 'COMPLETE' SIMIAN LINE (4 variants):
The 'PIC model' (which is a helpfull 'tool' to classify the combination of the core characteristics in the three major hand lines!) describes up to four different variants for a 'complete' simian line!
There are four variants that can all be described as a 'complete' simian line:
PIC type 101 (= 'isolated' simian line) PIC type 200 (= 'short' disconnected simian line) PIC type 201 (= 'long' disconnected simian line) PIC type 211 (= 'classic' simian line)
However, one should be aware that the simian line can show up in many different shapes and related manifestations.
A common variant is the 'incomplete' simian line.
The 'incomplete' simian line!
The basic characteristic of the 'incomplete' simian line variants is that usually they appear to have most of the 5 aspects of a 'complete' simian line - but the major difference is that in these variants the heart line & the head line are (only) PARTLY fused!!
Often the 'incomplete' variants are featured with a clear 'splitting' of the (simian) line, which can usually be associated with for example: the distal part of a heart line, or the proximal part of the head line.
A likewise variant concerns a hand which at first sight appears to be featured with a 'complete' simian line... but when the hand is also featured other (primary) line(s) that can be associated with the presence of a large interruption in the heart line or head line, or even in both lines.
Because of these characteristics, the 3th characteristic of the 'classic' simian line (see the list of 5 characteristics in the preceeding paragraph) is usually not present in an 'incomplete' simian line.
NOTICE: In the perspective of hand diagnostics (for Down syndrome etc.) the 'incomplete' simian line is usually treated likewise as the 'complete' simian line!
Photos below are examples of an 'incomplete' simian line ('click' for larger version):
ADVANCED CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE 'INCOMPLETE' SIMIAN LINE (8 variants):
The 'PIC model' describes up to eight different major hand line variants that all can be recognized as examples of an 'incomplete' simian line!
There are eight variants that can all be described as a 'complete' simian line:
PIC type 311c (the 'proximal' disconnected simian line) PIC type 311d (the 'distal' disconnected simian line) PIC type 312a+d ('proximal' disconnected simian-Sydney line) PIC type 312b+c ('distal' disconnected simian-Sydney line)
PIC type 321c (the 'proximal' simian line) PIC type 321d (the 'distal' simian line) PIC type 322a+d ('proximal' simian-Sydney line) PIC type 322b+c ('distal' simian-Sydney line)
However, one should be aware that the simian line can show up in many different shapes and related manifestations.
A common variant is the 'incomplete' simian line.
'Bridges' & the simian line?
Beyond the 'complete'- and 'incomplete' simian line variants there are a certain line characteristics that could induce associations with the simian line, a typical example is a 'bridge' between the heart- and the head line.
However, one should know that in general these 'bridges' are found in the hands of many people.
But in far most hands these bridges are rather fine lines, which do not relate to the core of the primary lines - and usually both the heart line and head line have a perfectly normal shape!
And especially when a hand displays many (fine) bridges, a closer study will usually reveal that these fine lines are featured with a path that is not directly related to the heart line and/or the head line.
For, in many cases those fine lines may STOP BEFORE they reach the major lines or they may actually CROSS THROUGH one or both major lines.
This perspective implicates that a perspective where the lines between the heart line and head line often can not bedescribed as a true 'bridge' at all - especially when the structure of those lines is much fines than the 'core' structure of the primarly lines!!
So, in general, it would be wise to avoid associations between those common 'bridges' of fines lines and the relatively rare simian line...!!!
And one should be very aware - and actively AVOID - not to confuse the 'minor' bridges (which are usually really LESS STRONG than the core structure of the major lines: heart line & head line), with the RELATIVELY UNIQUE STRUCTURE of a true simian line!
Finally: how about a single, clear 'bridge' between a complete heart line & head line... ?
The bridged 'transitional' simian line!
There is only one type of 'bridge' which can be directly associated with a simian line.
For, sometimes hands may appear to have a complete heart line + a complete head line, combined with the presence of likwise strong line that 'smoothly' bridges the heart line and the head line.
If that 'bridge' is positioned like a raizor straight line into a part of both the heart line AND the head line, one can speak of a 'transitional' simian line.
However, it is always possible to classify these 'transitional' simian lines as one of 8 'incomplete' simian line types described by the 'PIC-model'.
Therefore the 'transitional' simian line should NOT be recognized as a seperate category - for, the 'micro-details' of the bridge will reveal to what 'PIC-type' the hand should be classified!!
Photos below are examples of a 'transitional' simian line ('click' for larger version):
But if the 'bridge' is positioned with a considerable 'angle' into the heart line or head line, one can at most speak of a: minor simian line 'variant'.
Related variants, but no 'simian line'!
Next to the example of 'bridges', there are 2 other relatively common examples but these should NOT be recognized as a 'true' simian line variant!
• the 'proximal directed' heart line (the heart line does not connect with the head line, but the heart line does have a simian-like 'look'; featured with a perfectly normal head line).
• the 'distal directed' head line (the head line does not connect with the heart line, but the head line does have a simian-like 'look'; featured with a perfectly normal heart line).
In the perspective of hand diagnostics such related variants, should in general not only be recognized - not treated - as a variant> of the 'classic' simian line, for those lines likely display a quality on it's own!
And because they have their own unique quality, these two variants should not be recognized as a minor physical anomaly!
SIMIAN LINE TASK: One of the examples below is not a 'simian line'... can you find it?
And because the
But in the perspective of hand diagnostics in medical science, beyond the simian line there are two other major hand line variants that are also considered as minor physical anomaly:
• the 'Sydney line', an (underestimated) extended head line that transverses the complete palm (featured with a normal heart line);
• and the 'extended distal transverse crease', which relates to an extended heart line that transverse the full palm (featured with a normal head line).
Why was the name of simian lines (simian creases) named after simians? ...more.
SIMIAN LINE INDEX:
