Evaluation of the Relationship Between Finger Morphometry, Hand Motor Skills, and Practical Anatomy Exam Performance Among First-Year Medical Students

Background This study aimed to investigate the relationship between finger morphometric characteristics (2D:4D ratio) and hand motor skills (Nine-Hole Peg Test duration) with practical anatomy exam performance among first-year medical students. Methods This cross-sectional study included voluntary first-year medical students at Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine. The lengths of the second (2D) and fourth (4D) fingers of the right hand were measured using a digital caliper, and the 2D:4D ratio was calculated. Hand motor performance was evaluated using the Nine-Hole Peg Test (NHPT). Practical anatomy exam scores were used to determine academic achievement. Students with an average score above 65 were classified as successful. Results Regression analysis showed no significant association between 2D:4D ratio and anatomy exam performance (p = 0.771). However, there was a significant negative relationship between NHPT duration and academic performance (B = -1.63; p = 0.036). Successful students completed the test in significantly shorter time than their peers (p = 0.016). Conclusion Hand motor performance appears to be a significant predictor of anatomy exam success, whereas the 2D:4D ratio does not show such predictive power. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating psychomotor skills into medical education strategies.