The bones of the hand (ossa manus) include the carpal bones (ossa carpi), the metacarpals (ossa metacarpi), and the phalanges (phalanges/ossa digitorum).

The metacarpus consists of five small tubular bones. Each metacarpal bone has three parts:

• Base (basis ossis metacarpi)

  

• Body (corpus ossis metacarpi)

  

• Head (caput ossis metacarpi)

  

  The base has an articular surface for articulation with the carpal bones, and the head has an articular surface for articulation with the proximal phalanges. Furthermore, the bases of the II-V bones also contain lateral articular surfaces that are used for articulating with each other.

  The first metacarpal is slightly different from the others; it is thicker and shorter. It has an articular surface at its base to connect with the trapezium.

  At the base of the third metacarpal lies a small styloid process (processus styloideus).

  

  The spaces between the metacarpals are called interosseous metacarpal spaces (spatia interossea metacarpi).

  

  Now, we examine the phalanges (phalanges/ossa digitorum). The anatomical names of the phalanges are as follows:

• I – thumb (pollex)

• II – index finger (index)

• III – middle finger (digitus medius)

• IV – ring finger (digitus anularis)

• V – little finger (digitus minimus)

  

  All fingers except the thumb have three phalanges:

• Proximal phalanx (phalanx proximalis)

  

• Middle phalanx (phalanx media)

  

• Distal phalanx (phalanx distalis)

  

  The thumb has no middle phalanx.

  Phalanges have three parts, just like metacarpals:

• Base (basis phalangis)

  

• Body (corpus phalangis)

  

• Head (caput phalangis)

The bases and heads of the phalanges have articular surfaces for articulation with other bones (depending on the phalanx—either metacarpals or another phalanx). The end sections of the distal phalanges are slightly flattened and contain a tuberosity of the distal phalanx (tuberositas phalangis distalis).

Dictionary

Metacarpal bones and phalanges

bones of hand

ossa manus

carpal bones

ossa carpi

metacarpals

ossa metacarpi

phalanges

ossa digitorum / phalanges

metacarpal base

basis ossis metacarpi

body of metacarpals

corpus ossis metacarpi

head of metacarpals

caput ossis metacarpi

styloid process

processus styloideus

interosseous metacarpal spaces

spatia interossea metacarpi

thumb

pollex

index finger

index

middle finger

digitus medius

ring finger

digitus anularis

little finger

digitus minimus

proximal phalanx

phalanx proximalis

middle phalanx

phalanx media

distal phalanx

phalanx distalis

base of phalanx

basis phalangis

body of phalanx

corpus phalangis

head of phalanx

caput phalangis

tuberosity of distal phalanx

tuberositas phalangis distalis