Objective To explore the characteristics of length, width and thickness of the palms in Tibet, and to provide reference data for supplementary sport science, anthropology and clinical or behavior assessments. Methods This study selected young college students who voluntarily participated in Lhasa as the research objects. There were 216 males (64 in Tibetan, 72 in Han) and 80 females (40 in Tibetan and 40 in Han), with an average age of (22.12±3.06) years. The electronic vernier caliper was used to measure the left hand length, finger length and palm length of the subjects, such as 27 direct measurement indicators. The hand area was calculated by hand length and hand width. Results There were significant differences in hand length, thickness at metacarpale and hand index between Tibetan and Han（P＜0.05, 0.01). There was a significant difference（P＜0.05,0.01) between Tibetan female and Han female in comparison of the hand length, back of hand length, hand breadth at metacarpale, palm length, palm breadth, finger Ⅰ length, finger Ⅱ length,finger Ⅲ length, finger Ⅳ length,finger Ⅴ length, fingerⅠbreadth,maximum finger Ill breadth,finger Ⅲ breadth,maximum finger Ⅳ breadth,maximum finger Ⅲ breadth, maximum finger Ⅳ breadth,maximum finger Ⅲ thickiness and hand area. When Tibetan palm finger shape was compared between the different genders, in addition to thickness at metacarpale, thickness at hypothenar and hand index, other indicators were more in males than in females（P＜0.05,0.01). When Han palm finger shape was compared between different sexes, in addition to palm breadth and hand index, other indicators were more in males than in females（P＜0.05, 0.01).Conclusion The palms and fingers morphological features of the Tibetan men are more than those of the Han. The length, width and thickness of palms and fingers of Tibetan women are all smaller than those of Han. The palms and fingers morphological features of females are less than that of males in length, width and thickness.
