Hand Check: Do Your Palms Look Like This? Understanding the Single Transverse Palmar Crease
Take a look at the palm of your hand.
Most people have two main creases running across each palm. But for a small number of people, those lines are replaced by one single line that stretches across the palm.
If your hands look like that, you’re not alone!
This feature is known as a Single Transverse Palmar Crease (STPC), and while it often catches people’s attention, it’s usually just a normal variation in how the hand developed before birth.
What Is a Single Transverse Palmar Crease?
A Single Transverse Palmar Crease (STPC) is a single crease that extends across the palm instead of the two separate major creases seen in most people.
This crease forms very early in fetal development, while the hands are developing in the womb.
Years ago, it was commonly referred to as a “simian crease.” Today, healthcare professionals generally avoid that term because it is outdated and considered inappropriate. Single Transverse Palmar Crease (STPC) is the preferred medical term.
