Study reveals human hand evolved so that man could strike with fist

Human hand evolved to allow hitting with the fist, which makes a skillful man, according to a study by a team of researchers intrigued by the structure of the human wrist. Compared with apes, man’s hands are stronger, with shorter fingers and a longer and more mobile thumb. These proportions are special in the sense that they allow two characteristics of our species. First of all, they allow precision or gently handling objects using only our fingertips. Next, the mightiness with which objects can be firmly closed into our hands is, according to the same scientists, another reason behind the shape of our palms.

Biologists and anthropologists have traditionally considered that handling objects played a crucial role in the evolution of human beings, giving it an exceptional advantage over all other species, especially when it comes to the use of tools. On the other hand, the long hands of other primates are like that so they could adapt to living in trees and use large diameter branches. Another theory, more recent, suggests that man’s hands evolved in parallel with his feet, right after we adopted the biped walking. This enabled the hands and feet to develop following different patterns.

Doctor and biologist at the University of Utah in the United States, David Carrier, also wanted to explore this topic using a different approach. Two of the scientists he worked with have found that the proportions and mechanics of the human hand represent an ideal structure for punching with our fists. The phalanges folding fits perfectly between the palm and thumb, experts say. This strengthens the idea further, making our hand more resistant to the shock of striking with the fist and also assigning energy to the wrist, while protecting the joints and bones. U.S. scientists have used various experiments to test the theory on volunteers, who were asked to strike sandbags with a clenched fist and open hand in different ways. It was revealed that the impact of the force of the fist is superior and is more likely to cause injuries. The main advantage of the structure of the human hand is the mechanical resistance offered by the clenched fist, as confirmed by the study run by the American researchers.

If human beings had the same hand structure as apes, they would certainly not benefit from all the advantages the current structure of the palm brings. This is not only because of the length of the fingers but also because of the shape of the clenched first overall. In the case of apes, there is a gap large enough to damage the robustness of the whole system. Based on our arboreal ancestors’ hand structure, we can certainly imagine various evolutionary changes that would have resulted in a mace-shaped structure adapted for fighting. In the same way, different proportions of the hand are compatible with a great manual dexterity, says the study. Finally, there is only one correct structure sized to simultaneously provide two critical functions and this is the hand of Homo sapiens, the authors conclude.