HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE HAND IN DOWN SYNDROME? – 27 Characteristics!

How to recognize the hand in Down syndrome? Lionel Sharples Penrose introduced in 1963 in the magazine Nature the first ‘phantom picture’ for the hand in Down syndrome. The picture described some of the typical characteristics of the hand in Down syndrome – including the ‘simian crease’. Later more detailed ‘phantom pictures’ were presented by Schaumann & Alter (1976), and Rodewald (1981). In januari 2010 a more detailed version became available – describing 27 characteristics of the hand in Down’s syndrome! What are the most typical hand characteristics in Down’s syndrome? HAND LINES: A common characteristic is the presence of the famous ‘simian line‘; an alternative is the presence of another unusual hand line: the Sydney line. DERMATOGLYPHICS: Here one should especially notice the hypothenar zone of the hand (in palmistry a.k.a. ‘mount of moon’); usually this zone a large ‘ulnar loop’ pattern combined with a high positioned palmar axial triradius. HAND SHAPE: Short fingers (thumb and pinky finger are often abnormally short) + a square shaped palm. NOTICE: The author of the new ‘phantom picture’ for Down syndrome described a specific guideline which states that in all cases of Down syndrome certain combinations of the 27 characteristics are found in both the fingers AND the palm of the hand! A presentation of all details is available at: How to use the simian line + 26 other characteristics as a hand marker in Down’s syndrome! Photo: example of the hand in a Down syndrome baby