Why do womens arms bend slightly the wrong way at the elbow?

Question

If a man stretches his arm out straight it's straight all the way down, but a womans arm bends out-wards at the elbow.

Answer 1

The term is called hyperextention. It is not limited to just the elbows. I had a biology teacher in high school who demonstrated this. She also had hyperextended knees. When she would stand up straight her knees would bow in. So instead of this I it looked like this <. It can also be seen in thumbs as well. Hyperextended joints are genetic. I dont think hyperextended joints is totally gender specific, (like hemophilia which only affects males but the gene is carried by females) because I had a male friend with hyperextended thumbs, but I do think it is dominate in females. I hope this helps :D

Answer 2

So they can carry shopping bags more easily!
No, seriously women do have an increased "carrying angle" at the elbow, but this is just as a result of the way the humeral condyles (above the elbow) mate up with the end of the ulna (below the elbow) - I don't think there is a good scientific explanation... at least not one they teach at med school!

Answer 3

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Answer 4

I don't know if this is correct, but I was told that it was to do with women's hips.

The hips are broader generally (which is to do with being evolved for child bearing), and the arms follow the line of the body.

I bet someone has done a study on this - maybe in anthropology.

Answer 5

It's not the wrong way it's normal!
Having wide hips it's so the arms do not hang out sideways.
Their legs have the same tendency (to be knock kneed) as they come from those wide hips and standing with the feet wide apart all the time could be tiring.
RoyS

Answer 6

It has to do with the way the lower arm attachs to the upper arm.. woman are generally more flexible than men anyway this has to do with the effect of testosterone on bone and ligament growth. Men's bone are thicker and ligaments tighter than womans. You'll also find pre-pubescents males (i.e those not yet producing large amounts of testosterone) have joints that do the same thing.

Answer 7

It's to enable them to throw a ball like a girl. If their elbows went the same way as a man's then they would throw a ball like a man, not like a girl, of course.

Answer 8

Also women bend at the top of the pelvis when touching toes men bend at the back.
When a women bends over her back is generally straight. i guess its so they can pick up infants without injury.

Answer 9

Mine bend really far the opposite way - i'm interested to see what explanation you get!

Answer 10

Having got the legs wrong it was decided to make their arms match so they didn't look too odd.