EFFECT OF HANDEDNESS ON THE ASYMMETRY OF THE HAND IN KASHMIRI PANDITS Shveta Swami * 1 , Tarsem Kumar 2 , Deepak Sharma 3 . *1 B.P.S. Government Medical College for Women, Khanpur Kalan, District Sonepat, Haryana, India. 2  M. M. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Mullana, Ambala, Haryana, India. 3  M. M. College of Dental Sciences and Research, Mullana, Ambala, Haryana, India. Correspondence    Address:     Dr.    Shveta    Swami,    M.S,    B.P.S.    Government    Medical    College    for    Women,    Khanpur    Kalan,    District    Sonepat,    Haryana,    India. E-Mail:  shveta_swami@rediffmail.com ABSTRACT Introduction:   No   two   individuals   are   exactly   alike   in   their   measurable   traits;   even   genetically   identical   twins   (monozygotic)   differ   in   some   respects.   Although human   body   appears   to   be   bilaterally   symmetric,   researchers   have   noticed   the   presence   of   skeletal   and   morphological   asymmetries   in   human   body   for   long time.   This   is   due   to   the   effect   of   directionality   and   degree   of   hand   preference,   a   functional   property   of   hand,   on   anthropometric   measurement   of   hand   in healthy   individuals.   In   the   present   study,   the   aim   is   to   provide   an   authentic   database   on   right   and   left   hand   measurements   in   males   and   females   of   Kashmiri Pandits and to study the effect of handedness on it. Materials   and   Methods:   The   present   study   was   conducted   on   300   Kashmiri   Pandits   (150   of   either   sex   of   age   18   years)   and   above.   Six   hand   measurements: Hand   length,   hand   breadth,   palmar   length,   shape   index,   digit   index,   palmar   length/   width   ratio   were   taken   with   a   digital   sliding   caliper.   Handedness   was determined according to Edinburgh Inventory which evaluates the direction and degree of hand preference. Results   and   Conclusion:    The   mean   values   of   hand   parameters   were   significantly   different   between   males   and   females,   right   handers   and   left   handers.   Hand breadth   and   shape   index   were   found   to   be   greater   in   the   right   hand   but   the   palmar   length/   width   ratio   was   found   to   be   high   for   the   left   hand   in   strong   and weak   right   hand   preference   groups   in   Kashmiri   Pandits.   No   significant   difference   in   hand   parameter   values   on   right   and   left   hand   were   obtained   among ambidextrous subjects. Left hand preference groups displayed irregular and heterogenous characteristics with regard to hand parameters. KEY WORDS : Hand Anthropometry, Handedness, Asymmetry . References 1 . 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