The future of human evolution is often imagined through drastic changes like increased height or brain size. However, subtle anatomical shifts happening today show that evolution can be unpredictable. One such change is the increasing prevalence of an extra blood vessel in the forearm the median artery.
A study from researchers at Flinders University and the University of Adelaide, published in 2020, reveals that the median artery, which typically forms in the womb and disappears before birth, is sticking around in more adults. The artery runs down the center of the forearm and provides an additional blood supply to the hand.
“Since the 18th century, anatomists have studied the prevalence of this artery in adults, and our study shows it’s clearly increasing,” explained Flinders University anatomist Teghan Lucas. “The prevalence was around 10 percent in people born in the mid-1880s, compared to 30 percent in those born in the late 20th century.”
The median artery usually regresses at around eight weeks of gestation, leaving the radial and ulnar arteries to transport blood to the forearm and hand. However, this study suggests that the median artery is persisting more often, providing additional blood flow to the arm and hand in some individuals.
Researchers examined 80 cadaver limbs from Australians of European descent, comparing the findings with historical data. Their results showed a significant increase in the presence of the artery, which suggests natural selection may be favoring this extra vascular channel.
“This increase could have resulted from mutations in the genes involved in artery development or health problems in mothers during pregnancy,” Lucas noted.
While an extra artery might seem beneficial for blood supply, it also increases the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition that can impair hand function. More research is needed to understand the exact factors driving this evolutionary trend.
If this pattern continues, scientists predict that the majority of people could have a persistent median artery by 2100. This microevolutionary change is comparable to the reappearance of a small knee bone called the fabella, which has also become three times more common over the last century.
Although these changes seem small, they represent the ongoing evolution of our species, shaping new health challenges and adaptations in the future.
Read Now:Hubble Telescope Captures Stunning Images of the Red Spider Nebula, Delighting Space Enthusiasts
