One thousand four hundred and seven Kanuri and Babur/Bura subjects of northeastern Nigeria were selected randomly in order to determine the frequency and distribution patterns of midphalangeal hair of their hands. Of these, 25.2% possessed hair on the middle phalanges (approximately 26% of males and 24% of females). Therefore, the sex difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.2704). There was, however, a significant effect of age (p < 0.05), by which the incidence increased to a peak in the 10- to 15-year age group and, thereafter, decreased gradually to a maximum age of 35 years. The frequency order of occurrence of midphalangeal hair was 4 > 3 > 5 > 2. Eight patterns of hair distribution were found, but no subject had exclusive presence of hair on the middle phalanx of the index finger. The 3, 4, 5 finger combination was the most frequent. Hair on the proximal phalanx was absent in 8% of males and 7.6% of females. There was an ulnar rather than a radial shift in the distribution of midphalangeal hair, a phenomenon which might have been due to a shift in the morphogenetic gradient during development.

Keywords:
Hair distribution, Phalanx, Nigeria
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© 1996 S. Karger AG, Basel
1996
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