An Easy Guide to the Bones of the Hand and Wrist (2023)

Your hand consists of your wrist, palm and fingers.

Your wrist is made up of many smaller bones and joints that allow your hand to move in many directions. It also includes the distal ends of the forearm bones. The palm consists of 5 bones that connect to the 14 phalanges or finger bones.

Let's take a closer look.

YourimpulsesIt is made up of eight small bones called carpal bones or carpus. These irregularly shaped bones connect your hand to the two long bones in your forearm: the radius and ulna.

Carpal bones are small square, oval, and triangular bones. The accumulation of carpal bones in the wrist makes it strong and flexible. The wrist and hand wouldn't function the same if the wrist was made up of just one or two larger bones.

(Video) Learn The Bones of the Hand & Wrist In 2 Minutes (With Fractures)

The eight carpal bones are:

  • scaphoid, a long boat-shaped bone below the thumb
  • Mond-, a crescent-shaped bone adjacent to the scaphoid
  • trapeze, a rounded square bone above the scaphoid and below the thumb
  • trapeze, a wedge-shaped bone next to the trapezium
  • happen, an oval or head-shaped bone in the middle of the wrist
  • to bind, a wedge-shaped bone under the pinky side of the hand
  • triquetra, a pyramidal bone beneath the hamate
  • pubic bone, a small pea-shaped sesame bone (a bone embedded in a tendon or muscle) that sits atop the triquetrum
An Easy Guide to the Bones of the Hand and Wrist (1)

The wrist has three main joints. This makes the wrist more stable than if it had only one joint. It also gives your wrist and hand full range of motion, allowing for many different movements and positions.

The wrists allow yoursmovement of the wristyour hand up and down, like raising your hand to wave. These joints allow you to twist your hand and flex your wrist back and forth and side to side.

  • Radiocarpal joint.ÖRadiocarpal jointThis is where the radius—the thickest bone in the forearm—connects with the lower row of bones in the wrist: the scaphoid, lunate, and triquetrum. This joint is primarily found on the thumb side of the wrist.
  • Ulnokarpalgelenk.This is the joint between the ulna - the thinnest bone of the forearm - and the lunate and triquetrum of the wrist. This is the pinky side of your wrist.
  • Distales Radioulnargelenk.This joint is found in the wrist but does not include the wrist bones. It connects the lower ends of the radius and ulna.

Ömiddle handare the five long bones of the hand between the wrist and fingers. They form the palm and are visible through the skin on the back of the hand. Each metacarpal corresponds to a finger (fingers) and consists of a base, a shaft or body, and a head.

Slightly thicker and shorter, the first metacarpal has more mobility and can move on its own. The second through fifth pasterns move side by side and are similar in size and shape. Of these four bones, the fourth and fifth are the most mobile.

The five metacarpals are:

  • First (thumb) metacarpal:shortest and thickest metacarpal, moves with the trapezius
  • Second (index) metacarpal:Longest metacarpal with largest base connecting with trapezium, trapezoid and capitate
  • Third (middle) metacarpal:articulated with the capitate
  • Fourth metacarpal (ring):Articula-se com o capitato e hamato
  • Fifth metacarpal (little finger):small metacarpal articulating with the hamate
(Video) Hand Anatomy Animated Tutorial

phalanx bones of the fingers

(Video) Learning the Carpals Bones of the Hand

Finger bones are made up of 14 narrow bones called phalanges. Each of the four fingers consists of a base, middle and end phalanx. The thumb has only a base and a terminal phalanx.

The three phalanges of the fingers are:

  • proximale Phalanx.Öproximale Phalanx, the largest of the phalanxes, articulates with the metacarpals and median phalanx.
  • Middle (middle) phalanx.Ömiddle phalanxforms joints with the base link and the terminal link.
  • Endglied.ÖEndgliedsupports the nail and the sensitive skin of the fingertip and articulates with the middle joint.

Finger joints provide movement and enable activities like pinching and grasping, according to theAmerican Society of Hand Surgery (ASSH).

ForASSH, the four finger joints are:

  • Carpometacarpo (CMC):Joint at the distal carpal bone and base of the metacarpal
  • Metakarpofalangica (MCP):Joint connecting the metacarpal to the proximal phalanx allows pinching, grasping and moving fingers in different directions
  • Interfalangica proximal (PIP):Articulation between the proximal and middle phalanges, allows the finger to flex and extend
  • Distale Interfalangica (DIP):Fingertip joint near the nail bed

The three joints of the thumb are:

(Video) How to palpate the carpal bones in the wrist

  • Trapeziometacarpal (TMC) joint:The thumb CMC joint is more specialized and has more movement and flexibility
  • Metakarpofalangica (MCP):Joint connecting the metacarpal and the phalanx, used for pinching and gripping
  • Interfalangica (IP):Fingertip joint near the nail bed

Ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves in the wrist, hand, and fingers can become injured or damaged. Various health conditions can also occur in this area.

Common wrist, hand, and finger injuries and conditions include:

  • Sprain.A sprain occurs when you tear or strain a ligament. This can be the result of overstretching, physical impact, or a fall.
  • Impaction syndrome.Also known as ulnocarpal pilar, this wrist condition occurs when the ulnar arm bone is slightly longer than the radius. This usually occurs after a wrist fracture has poorly (atypically) healed and makes the ulnocarpal joint between this bone and the wrist bones less stable.
  • Arthritisschmerz.Arthritis can occur in any of the joints in the wrist, hand, or fingers, including theMCP-Board. You may have wrist painArthritis. This can be due to normal wear and tear or an injury to your wrist. you can get it toorheumatoide Arthritisfrom an imbalance in the immune system.
  • fracture.You canfractureBones in the wrist, hand, or fingers from a fall or other injury.
  • Repetitive Strain Injuries.Common wrist, hand, and finger injuries occur because of repetitive movements. This includes typing, texting, writing and playing tennis. Symptoms include swelling,deafness, and pain.
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome.This syndrome occurs when themedian nerveit is compressed.Carpal tunnel syndromecan result from repeated wrist hyperextension, high blood pressure, or diabetes.
  • Boxerbruch.This impact injury usually affects the fourth and fifth metacarpals. Often oneBoxerbruchoccurs when you hit a hard object with a closed fist.
  • Jersey-Finger.isgeneral sports injuryIt usually occurs on the ring finger when the tendon separates from the bone near the tip of the finger. Sometimes an operation is necessary.
  • Hammerfinger.Also called baseball fingersHammerfingerIt's an impact injury that affects the tendon that stretches the finger or thumb. The tendon can tear or detach from the finger bone, causing pain, bruising, and swelling.
  • trigger finger.Also calledstenosierende Tenosynovitis, this condition usually affects the thumb and ring finger. It can occur after forced use of the hands and is common in people with diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. symptoms offinger on the triggerThese include pain, stiffness, and a feeling of being stuck or blocked when you bend or straighten your finger.

remover

(Video) Hand and Wrist Examination - OSCE Guide (Latest)

Your hand is made up of 27 bones in the wrist, palm and fingers. It consists of 8 carpal bones, 5 metacarpal bones and 14 phalanges.

Along with the joints in your hands, these bones provide support, flexibility, and dexterity to enable you to perform a range of activities and movements.

FAQs

What is the acronym to remember all the carpal bones? ›

Carpool Bones. There are 8 carpal bones, which can easily be remembered with the mnemonic, "Some Lovers Try Positions That They Can't Handle," representing the scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, pisiform, trapezium, trapezoid, capitate and hamate bones.

What are the bones between hand and wrist? ›

The carpus is formed from eight small bones collectively referred to as the carpal bones. The carpal bones are bound in two groups of four bones: the pisiform, triquetrum, lunate and scaphoid on the upper end of the wrist. the hamate, capitate, trapezoid and trapezium on the lower side of the hand.

What are the 27 bones of the hand? ›

The human hand has 27 bones: the carpals or wrist accounts for 8; the metacarpals or palm contains five; the remaining fourteen are digital bones; fingers and thumb. The palm has five bones known as metacarpal bones, one to each of the 5 digits. These metacarpals have a head, a shaft, and a base.

What are the 8 wrist bones called? ›

The proximal row of carpal bones (moving from radial to ulnar) are the scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, and pisiform, while the distal row of carpal bones (also from radial to ulnar) comprises the trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, and hamate.

What is the easiest way to remember bones? ›

Remember Mnemonic Devices

Create rhymes and songs that help you to remember the names of bones. The acronym PEST OF 6, for example, represents the six cranial bones -- the parietal, ethmoid, sphenoid, temporal, occipital and frontal. In this case, the numeral 6 helps you to remember that there are six bones in total.

What is the main bone in the wrist called? ›

Your wrist is made up of eight small bones called the carpal bones, or the carpus. These irregularly shaped bones join your hand to the two long forearm bones: the radius and ulna. The carpal bones are small square, oval, and triangular bones. The cluster of carpal bones in the wrist makes it both strong and flexible.

What is the big bone on your wrist called? ›

The two bones in the lower are called the Radius and the Ulna. The Radius is a long and thicker bone that is located on the thumb side of the wrist. The Ulna is a long but thinner bone that is located on the pinky side of the wrist.

What is the wrist joint called? ›

The wrist joint also referred to as the radiocarpal joint is a condyloid synovial joint of the distal upper limb that connects and serves as a transition point between the forearm and hand. A condyloid joint is a modified ball and socket joint that allows for flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction movements.

What 3 bones make up the wrist? ›

The bones comprising the wrist include the distal ends of the radius and ulna, 8 carpal bones, and the proximal portions of the 5 metacarpal bones (see the images below).

What are the 3 finger bones called? ›

Phalanges. The 14 bones that are found in the fingers of each hand and also in the toes of each foot. Each finger has 3 phalanges (the distal, middle, and proximal); the thumb only has 2.

What is the smallest bone in hand? ›

The trapezoid bone (lesser multangular bone) is a carpal bone in tetrapods, including humans. It is the smallest bone in the distal row of carpal bones that give structure to the palm of the hand.

What is the biggest bone in your hand? ›

The capitate is the largest carpal bone found within the hand. The capitate is found within the distal row of carpal bones.

What is a broken wrist bone called? ›

The end of the bone nearest the wrist is called the distal end. The medical term for "broken bone" is fracture. Therefore, the medical term for the most common type of "broken wrist" is a distal radius fracture (that is, the larger forearm bone is broken near the wrist).

What are the 6 movements of the wrist? ›

There are 4 movements that the wrist can make: flexion, extension, radial deviation, and ulnar deviation. The forearm/wrist/hand can also rotate in pronation and supination movements.

What are six questions that can be answered by bones? ›

Forensic Anthropology
  • Are the bones human?
  • How many individuals are represented?
  • How long ago did death occur?
  • What was the person's age at death?
  • What was the person's sex?
  • What was the person's ancestry?
  • What was the person's height?

What is the rhyme to remember the bones in the body? ›

Sally Left The Party To Take Cathy Home

These 8 bones are named for their unique shapes; Scaphoid (boat), Lunate(Crescent), Triquetrum(3-cornered), Pisiform(pea), Trapezuim(Table), Trapezoid(quadrilateral), Capitate(head shaped), and Hamate (hook-shaped).

Can bones tell how someone died? ›

Bones marked by perimortem injuries, such as unhealed fractures, bullet holes, or cuts, can reveal cause of death. The trained anthropologist is also able to identify skeletal clues of ancestry. Even certain activities, diet, and ways of life are reflected in bones and teeth.

What are the 4 joints in the wrist? ›

Joints of the hand include carpometacarpal joints found between the carpals and the metacarpals; the intermetacarpal joints among the metacarpals themselves; the metacarpophalangeal joints between the metacarpals and the proximal phalanges; and finally, the interphalangeal joints found between the proximal phalanges ...

What are the 2 main types of joints in the wrist? ›

Radiocarpal joint: This joint is where the radius, one of the forearm bones, joins with the first row of wrist bones (scaphoid, lunate, and triquetrum). Ulnocarpal joint: This joint is where the ulna, one of the forearm bones, joins with the lunate and triquetrum wrist bones.

What are fingers called? ›

Eachfinger, starting with the one closest to the thumb, has a colloquial name to distinguish it from the others: index finger, pointer finger, or forefinger. middle finger or long finger, ring finger. little finger, pinky finger, or small finger.

What is the easiest bone to break in the hand? ›

The scaphoid bone is one of the carpal bones in your hand around the area of your wrist. It is the most common carpal bone to break (fracture). A scaphoid fracture is usually caused by a fall on to an outstretched hand.

How do you remember wrist and hand muscles? ›

Pad Dab (mnemonic)
...
This mnemonic recalls the intrinsic muscles of the hand in their relative palmar anatomical position from lateral to medial:
  1. A: abductor pollicis brevis.
  2. F: flexor pollicis brevis.
  3. O: opponens pollicis.
  4. A: adductor pollicis.
  5. O: opponens digiti minimi.
  6. F: flexor digiti minimi.
  7. A: abductor digiti minimi.
Aug 24, 2021

Do humans have 206 or 213 bones? ›

There are typically around 270 bones in human infants, which fuse to become 206 to 213 bones in the human adult. The reason for the variability in the number of bones is because some humans may have a varying number of ribs, vertebrae, and digits.

How many bones does a 7 year old have? ›

There are three hundred bones in children. That changes as they reach adulthood.

What is the only bone that does not have a joint? ›

Famously, the hyoid bone is the only bone in humans that does not articulate with any other bone, but only has muscular, ligamentous, and cartilaginous attachments.

How many bones in a hand? ›

The human hand is made up of a total of 27 individual bones: 8 carpal bones, 5 metacarpal bones and 14 "finger bones" (also called phalanges) are connected by joints and ligaments.

What is a thumb called? ›

thumb, also called pollex, short, thick first digit of the human hand and of the lower-primate hand and foot. It differs from other digits in having only two phalanges (tubular bones of the fingers and toes). The thumb also differs in having much freedom of movement and being opposable to tips of other digits.

What is the pinky bone called? ›

The fifth metacarpal bone (metacarpal bone of the little finger or pinky finger) is the most medial and second-shortest of the metacarpal bones.

What is the arm bone called? ›

Your arm is made up of three bones: the upper arm bone (humerus) and two forearm bones (the ulna and the radius).

What is the largest bone? ›

Your femur is the largest bone in your body. Most adult femurs are around 18 inches long. The femur is also the strongest bone in your body.

What is the weakest bone in your body? ›

The weakest and softest bone in the human is the clavicle or collar bone. Because it is a tiny bone which runs horizontally across your breastbone & collarbone, it is simple to shatter. Water makes up 31% of the weight of your bones. Your bones are four times more powerful than a concrete pound for pound.

What is the 3 smallest bone? ›

What are the 3 smallest bones in your body? This view is from the middle ear space looking out towards the eardrum and what you are looking at are the 3 ossicles: the malleus, the incus, and the beginning portion of the stapes, also known as the 3 smallest bones in your body!

What is the heaviest strongest bone? ›

The femur is the longest, heaviest, and strongest bone in the human body.

What are the 3 largest bone? ›

The Top Ten: Longest Bones in the Human Body
RankBoneAvg. Inches
1.Femur (thighbone)19.9
2.Tibia (shinbone)16.9
3.Fibula (lower leg)15.9
4.Humerus (upper arm)14.4
6 more rows

What is the side of the hand called? ›

The front or palm side of the hand is called the palmar side, and the back of the hand is called the dorsal side. A hand is composed of different bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, innervating nerves, and blood vessels that help in various movements and dexterity.

What is the saying to remember the tarsal bones? ›

A good mnemonic for remembering the names of the tarsal bones is: Tiger Cubs Need MILC. Here are the names of the tarsal bones: Talus. Calcaneus.

How do you remember the tarsal bones Mnemonic? ›

Here's the mnemonic for the tarsals: Tall Camels Never Consume Cubes.
  1. Tall (Talus)
  2. Camels (Calcaneus)
  3. Never (Navicular)
  4. Consume (3 Cuneiforms– medial, intermediate, lateral)
  5. Cubes (Cuboid)

What is the acronym for metacarpal? ›

The metacarpals are often referred to by the abbreviation “MC” plus the number of the ray to which they belong. Thus, MC1 is the first metacarpal or the thumb metacarpal.

What is the eye bone called? ›

The orbit is the bony structure around the eye. An eye socket fracture, or orbital fracture, occurs when one or more bones surrounding the eye are broken. An orbital fracture usually occurs after some type of injury or a strike to the face.

What is the strongest bone in your body? ›

The femur is one of the most well-described bones of the human skeleton in fields ranging from clinical anatomy to forensic medicine. Because it is the longest and strongest bone in the human body, and thus, one of the most well-preserved in skeletal remains, it makes the greatest contribution to archaeology.

What is the pinky toe bone called? ›

Each toe consists of three phalanx bones, the proximal, middle, and distal, with the exception of the big toe (Latin: hallux). For a minority of people, the little toe also is missing a middle bone. The hallux only contains two phalanx bones, the proximal and distal.

What are the 7 tarsal bones in order? ›

The tarsal bones are 7 in number. They are named the calcaneus, talus, cuboid, navicular, and the medial, middle, and lateral cuneiforms.

What is the rhyme to remember bones of the foot? ›

The different foot bones can be remembered with the acronym "Tiger Cubs Need MILC," representing the Talus, Calcaneous, Navicular, Medial Cuneiform, Intermediate Cuneiform, Lateral Cuneiform and the Cuboid bones.

What are the names of all 7 tarsal bones? ›

The tarsal bones are found in the ankle and include the calcaneus, talus, navicular, medial, intermediate and lateral cuneiform and cuboid [Figure 1B].

What are the 206 bones called? ›

The axial skeleton, comprising the spine, chest and head, contains 80 bones. The appendicular skeleton, comprising the arms and legs, including the shoulder and pelvic girdles, contains 126 bones, bringing the total for the entire skeleton to 206 bones.

Do bones hold memory? ›

In a paper published in late September in the journal Cell, Karsenty showed that bone plays a direct role in memory and mood.

What are 5 abbreviations? ›

15 English abbreviations you need to know
  • But first, a quick cheat sheet:
  • RSVP – Please reply. ...
  • ASAP – As soon as possible. ...
  • AM/PM – Before midday (morning) and after midday (afternoon) ...
  • LMK – Let me know. ...
  • BRB – Be right back. ...
  • DOB – Date of birth. ...
  • CC/BCC – Carbon copy/blind carbon copy.
Jan 19, 2022

What is the term for carpal? ›

The carpal bones are the eight small bones that make up the wrist (or carpus) that connects the hand to the forearm. The term "carpus" is derived from the Latin carpus and the Greek καρπός (karpós), meaning "wrist".

What is the meaning of phalanges? ›

Phalanges. The 14 bones that are found in the fingers of each hand and also in the toes of each foot. Each finger has 3 phalanges (the distal, middle, and proximal); the thumb only has 2. Metacarpal bones. The 5 bones that compose the middle part of the hand.

Videos

1. How to Locate the Wrist Carpal Bones
(The Physio Channel)
2. How to Learn the Human Bones | Tips to Memorize the Skeletal Bones Anatomy & Physiology
(RegisteredNurseRN)
3. Required Palpation Guide to Wrist and Hand Landmarks SD Small WEB MBL H264 900
(Brian Russ PT DPT OCS FAAOMPT COMT)
4. How to Crack Your Wrists by Yourself
(SpineCare Decompression and Chiropractic Center)
5. Mayo Clinic Minute: Relief for achy wrists
(Mayo Clinic)
6. Skull Bones Mnemonic (Cranial and Facial Bones) | Anatomy and Physiology
(RegisteredNurseRN)

References

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