ABOUT THE USE OF THE FAMOUS 'SINGLE PALMAR CREASE' AS A NOTORIOUS MARKER IN HAND DIAGNOSTICS
INTRODUCTION:
The Simian Line (a.k.a. 'simian crease'): why is it recognized as an unusual line?
Typical for the human hand is the presence of 3 major hand lines.
One of these major hand lines is positioned vertical in the hand, surrounding the thumb mouse (this line is also known as the 'life line').
And the other two major hand lines are positioned horizontal in the hand, but usually they do not cross the full palm (the distal line is known as the 'heart line', the proximal line is known as the 'head line').
The presence of the classic simian line is indicated when the two horizontal creases appear to be fused into one single crease, which (usually) crosses the full palm - see the red line in the picture in the left column.
In medical science is the simian line classified as a minor physical anomaly (MPA). [NOTICE: MPA's have generally no specified meaning, unless they are obsverved in combination with certain other MPA's
].
Paul Broca (1877) was the first who described the unusual characteristic of the simian line (a.k.a the 'simian crease' or 'single palm transverse crease') for the human hand. The word 'simian' refers to the fact that the hands of primates (simians) are usually featured with multiple likewise horizontal lines that transverse the full palm.
Two decades later the diagnostic significance of the simian line was established when R.L. Down discovered in 1906 that the 'single palmar crease' is a very common characteristic in Down's syndrome (after R.L. Down's father - the English physician, J. Langdon Down - had discovered Down syndrome in 1866).
During the 20th century the simian line became linked with a 'rainbow' of syndromes, diseases & other medial problems. And in modern 'Hand Analysis' the simian line has also been linked with various personality characteristics (often featured with a negative connotation, only sometimes recognized as positive 'gift marker').
In 2000 a movie was presented titled: 'The Simian Line' (a drama featuring e.g.: Cindy Crawford, William Hurt & Harry Connick Jr.) - inspired by the fact that this famous, but notorious, hand crease has touched the lives of many people around the world.
Today the (complete) simian line is known to be found in about 1 in 30 caucasian people (3%) - though in certain populations (Asian populations are the most well-known example) simian lines are more often seen.
Studies in large populations have shown that the simian lines is usually twice more often seen in men (4%) compared to women (2%).
What is in 2010 the state of knowledge about simian lines? ...more.
TIP:
For a better understanding of the unusual characteristics of the simian line, one can use the section 'hand lines (palmar creases)' -
which includes the introduction of the innovative 'PIC-model' (which should serve as a helpfull 'tool' to classify the COMBINATION of the core characteristics in the three major hand lines!).
The 'PIC model' demonstrates that basically there are up to twelve types of simian lines - most of them are quite rare, but three of the simian related 'PIC types' (see the pictures below) are relatively common: each of these PIC variants can be noticed in more than 1% of the population!!
Read more about the 'complete'- and 'incomplete' simian line variants in: 'How to recognize a simian line?'
The three most common simian line variants: PIC type 211, PIC type 311d, and PIC type 321d.
SIMIAN LINE INDEX:
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