medical terminology- bendable thumbs?

[stat3113]

I learned this once but was not able to look it up again. There is a medical term for the 2 different types of thumbs that humans have. One type is able to be bent back much more than the other, as you can see in the pic on the site below. To such an extent that the tip of the thumb will literally point backwards. Otherwise, "straight" thumbs cannot be bent back like that.

http://www.jbhs.k12.nf.ca/biology/THUMBS.HTM

Does anyone know the medical/biological term for this?

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[spicedmanna]

I learned this once but was not able to look it up again. There is a medical term for the 2 different types of thumbs that humans have. One type is able to be bent back much more than the other, as you can see in the pic on the site below. To such an extent that the tip of the thumb will literally point backwards. Otherwise, "straight" thumbs cannot be bent back like that.

http://www.jbhs.k12.nf.ca/biology/THUMBS.HTM

Does anyone know the medical/biological term for this?

My quick search indicates that this recessive condition is called "Hitchhiker's Thumb"

 

[spicedmanna]

According to Medcyclopaedia -

Hitchhiker's Thumb:

a deformity of the thumb characterized by flexion at the metacarpophalangeal joint and hyperextension at the interphalangeal joint.

This abnormality, which is also known as Z-shaped deformity of the thumb, may occur in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Patients with diastrophic dysplasia sometimes have abnormalities causing them to hold the thumbs and great toes in a hitchhiker's position.

http://www.medcyclopaedia.com/library/topics/volume_iii_1/h/hitchhikers_thumb.aspx

 

[PeripateticMD]

I like to call it the "cool thumb" because I have it and am cool, obviously .

 

[Critical Mass]

I forgot what interesting research is conducted during high school. I think one time I went around seeing how many people had widow's peaks or could do the Spock salute. Good times.

 

[armybound]

i've got the bendy thumb.. didn't know it wasn't normal.

who's got a picture of the straight thumb?

 

[stat3113]

wow thanks guys. now the question is: does anyone know what percent of the population has the recessive Hitchhiker's thumb?

Does recessive in and of itself imply that it should be < 50% or not really?

 

[armybound]

it can be recessive and still the common geno/phenotype, it all depends on allele distribution. being recessive doesn't mean it's uncommon