<P> The origin of the selection of the fourth finger as the ring finger is not definitively known . According to László A. Magyar, the names of the ring finger in many languages reflect an ancient belief that it is a magical finger . It is named after magic or rings, or called nameless (for example, in Chinese: 無名指, unnamed finger). In Sanskrit and other languages like Finnish or Russian, the ring finger is called respectively - "Anamika", "Nimetön" and "Безымянный" ("nameless"). In Arabic and Hebrew, the ring finger is called respectively - bansur (meaning "victory") - and kmitsa (meaning "taking a handful"). </P> <P> In anatomy, the ring finger is called digitus medicinalis, the fourth finger, digitus annularis, digitus quartus, or digitus IV . It may also be referred to as the third finger, excluding the thumb . In Latin, the word anulus means "ring", digitus means "finger", and quartus means "fourth". </P> <P> Before medical science discovered how the circulatory system functioned, people believed that a vein ran directly from the fourth finger on the left hand to the heart . Because of the hand--heart connection, they chose the descriptive name vena amoris, Latin for the vein of love, for this particular vein . </P> <P> Based upon this name, their contemporaries, purported experts in the field of matrimonial etiquette, wrote that it would only be fitting that the wedding ring be worn on this finger . By wearing the ring on the fourth finger of the left hand, a married couple symbolically declares their eternal love for each other . </P>

Why do russian orthodox wear wedding ring on right hand