Of the five fingers of our hands, why is the middle finger the longest?

May I quote the response of Dr. Universe in his homepage - http://www.wsu.edu/DrUniverse/finger3.html regarding the question on why the middle finger is the longest of the four. Here is his explanation - "Pat Carter is an evolutionary physiologist, which means he studies how animal bodies work and why they evolved that way. He says the longer finger is probably left over from human ancestors' paws and is probably a matter of SYMMETRY. Something that is symmetrical basically means it's balanced." "Ken Kardong, who is an evolutionary morphologist, which means he studies the form and structure of bodies and why they evolved that way. He says he likes that idea of symmetry, also, but takes it a little further. He says the different length fingers have to do with the "geometry of closing." Try this: Bring your fingers together into a fist. Notice how when they reach your palm, they all touch at the same time? They meet equally, so when they grasp, they share equally in the hand's work. Over the millions of years of evolution, hands became this way simply because this shape works so well. Karen Lupo, who is an anthropologist, which means she studies humans and how they developed. Her answer? "I have no idea." However, she said that a longer middle finger is not necessarily the case in other primates, humans' nearest relatives. In fact, in some primates, the fourth finger is longest.

If I may add, the middle finger is some sort of an identity. If a man's ring finger is longer than his middle finger, there is a very high probability that he is GAY. So watch out, examine your suitors' fingers first before saying yes. (This is not a joke, this is based on a scientific study)

well maybe because, so we can reach the part of our body then give us a good feeling, like a good scratch at the back of hard to reach areas.

Hi, As all other fingers are shorter it became longest. I hope other finger had growth rate.May it is eldest. Any how some one has to longest.

maybe God made it just to make it sexier to look at. coz i dont have anything to see reasons why and maybe to reach longer on to something.