Distribution of hair on the phalanges of the fingers in a sample of medical students

ABSTRACT

Distribution of hair phalanges shows striking population differences. Previous literature documented the hair distribution among different populations of the world. No report has investigated the Arab Countries except one from Egypt The present article shows the hair distribution on phalanges in Iraqis. The phalanges of 300 males and 200 females were examined. The result shows absence of hair on proximal phalanges in 4% of males and 7.5% of females. The frequency distribution of hair on middle phalanges was 44%. in males and 42.5% in females Although there is a wide range of variation in the presence or absence of hair on the middle phalanges from one population to another, the frequency order an all of them including the present report is on digit 4>digit 3>digit 5>digit 2. The distal phalanges never showed hair which is in agreement with previous reports