• Question: Hello, why are our fingers different sizes?

    Asked by Kate and Peckasso :) to Chris, Josh, Rebecca, Rob, Susan on 22 Jun 2015.
    • Photo: Rebecca Dewey

      Rebecca Dewey answered on 22 Jun 2015:

      Having fingers of different lengths is better for fine control (compared to having all our fingers the same lengths). Imaging holding a spherical object like an orange in the palm of your hand (or actually go and find a spherical object like an orange, apple, ball etc.). Notice how your fingers actually curve around the ball evenly, giving a firm grip that makes it more difficult to drop the ball. If your fingers were all the same length, you would not be able to grip so easily as the fingers on the end (currently the little finger) would get in the way and create gaps.

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