The human body is the result of millions of years of gradual change, shaped by movement, environment, and survival needs. Many of the abilities we use every day are inherited from a time long before modern conveniences existed. What makes evolution especially intriguing is that it unfolds so slowly we rarely notice it happening—yet traces of it remain quietly visible in our own anatomy.
Even with dramatic changes in lifestyle and technology, our bodies are still remarkably similar to those of early humans. Evolution doesn’t keep pace with rapid cultural shifts, so some physical features that were once essential no longer serve the same purpose. Over time, these traits may become smaller, vary from person to person, or disappear altogether without affecting health or function.
A clear example can be found in the wrist. The palmaris longus is a thin tendon that once played an important role in forearm strength and grip—especially useful for climbing and swinging, common behaviors in primates. As humans adapted to life on the ground and relied less on forearm-driven movement, this tendon became less critical for survival.
Today, many people no longer have the palmaris longus at all. You can check by turning your palm upward, touching your thumb to your pinky, and gently lifting your hand—if a narrow band appears in the center of your wrist, it’s present. If not, that’s perfectly normal. Its absence doesn’t affect strength or flexibility. Instead, it offers a subtle reminder that evolution hasn’t stopped—it continues quietly, shaping variation in ways we can still observe, one small tendon at a time.