Phalanges of the hand
Encyclopedia
The phalanges of the hand
are commonly known as the finger bones. They are fourteen in number, three for each finger
, and two for the thumb
.
Each consists of a body and two extremities.
The ungual phalanges, those most distal, are convex on their dorsal and flat on their volar surfaces; they are recognized by their small size, and by a roughened, elevated surface of a horseshoe form on the volar surface of the distal extremity of each which serves to support the sensitive pulp of the finger.
Hand
A hand is a prehensile, multi-fingered extremity located at the end of an arm or forelimb of primates such as humans, chimpanzees, monkeys, and lemurs...
are commonly known as the finger bones. They are fourteen in number, three for each finger
Finger
A finger is a limb of the human body and a type of digit, an organ of manipulation and sensation found in the hands of humans and other primates....
, and two for the thumb
Thumb
The thumb is the first digit of the hand. When a person is standing in the medical anatomical position , the thumb is the lateral-most digit...
.
Each consists of a body and two extremities.
- The body tapers from above downward, is convex posteriorly, concave in front from above downward, flat from side to side; its sides are marked by rough areas which give attachment to the fibrous sheaths of the flexor tendons.
- The proximal extremities of the bones of the first row present oval, concave articular surfaces, broader from side to side than from front to back. The proximal extremity of each of the bones of the second and third rows presents a double concavity separated by a median ridge.
- The distal extremities are smaller than the proximal, and each ends in two condyles (knuckles) separated by a shallow groove; the articular surface extends farther on the volarVolarVolar may refer to:*Volar, Afghanistan*Flight*Volar Airlines*Anatomical terms of location#Relative_directions_in_the_limbs**Volar arches**Volar branch of ulnar nerve**Volar radioulnar ligament**Volar carpal branch...
than on the dorsalDorsum (biology)In anatomy, the dorsum is the upper side of animals that typically run, fly, or swim in a horizontal position, and the back side of animals that walk upright. In vertebrates the dorsum contains the backbone. The term dorsal refers to anatomical structures that are either situated toward or grow...
surface, a condition best marked in the bones of the first row.
The ungual phalanges, those most distal, are convex on their dorsal and flat on their volar surfaces; they are recognized by their small size, and by a roughened, elevated surface of a horseshoe form on the volar surface of the distal extremity of each which serves to support the sensitive pulp of the finger.