(31) Hand

Types of Bones in the Hand

  • Carpals (8 total)

    • Located at the wrist.

    • Important to recognize name distinctions from tarsals (ankle bones).

    • Example: Lunate is a carpal bone, not a tarsal.

    • No need to memorize individual names but recognize listed carpals in lab notes.

  • Metacarpals (5 total)

    • Numbering begins at the thumb side:

      • 1st Metacarpal: base of the thumb

      • 2nd Metacarpal

      • 3rd Metacarpal

      • 4th Metacarpal

      • 5th Metacarpal

  • Phalanges (digits; fingers and thumb)

    • Singular: Phalanx.

    • Phalanges are numbered similarly to metacarpals starting from the thumb:

      • 1st Phalanx: Thumb

      • 2nd Phalanx: Pointer Finger

      • 3rd Phalanx: Middle Finger

      • 4th and 5th for Ring and Pinky Fingers, respectively.

    • Distal Phalanx: Farthest from the shoulder.

    • Proximal Phalanx: Closest to the metacarpals (knuckles).

    • Thumb has two phalanges: proximal and distal.

    • Other fingers have three phalanges: proximal, middle, and distal.

    • Middle Phalanx: Bone in between proximal and distal in non-thumb digits.

    • Distinguish between "middle" (refers to position in digit) and "medial" (refers to proximity to the center of the body).

    • Example: Identification of phalanges is important (e.g., the second phalanx in the second digit).

    • Ensure ability to name each of the phalanges.


Types of Bones in the Hand

Carpals (8 total)

  • These are the bones in your wrist.

  • There are 8 wrist bones in total, and they do not have to memorize their names but need to know them in their study notes.

Metacarpals (5 total)

  • These are the bones in your hand that are connected to your fingers.

  • Start counting from the thumb:

    • 1st Metacarpal: the bone at the base of your thumb.

    • 2nd Metacarpal

    • 3rd Metacarpal

    • 4th Metacarpal

    • 5th Metacarpal

Phalanges (the bones in your fingers and thumb)

  • Phalanges is a fancy word for the bones in your fingers.

  • Each finger has bones that are counted the same way as metacarpals, starting from the thumb:

    • 1st Phalanx: Thumb

    • 2nd Phalanx: Pointer Finger

    • 3rd Phalanx: Middle Finger

    • 4th and 5th: Ring and Pinky Fingers

  • The farthest bone from your shoulder is called the Distal Phalanx, and the one closest to your hand (the knuckles) is the Proximal Phalanx.

  • The thumb has just two bones: the proximal and distal phalanx. All the other fingers have three bones: proximal, middle, and distal phalanx.