phalanges

Examples of phalanges in the following topics:

• Carpals, Metacarpals, and Phalanges (The Hand)

  • With the exception of the thumb, each digit contains a proximal, intermediate, and distal phalange; the thumb lacks an intermediate phalange.
  • The length of the phalanges decreases distally.
  • Fingers are made up of proximal, intermediate, and distal phalanges.
  • The thumb lacks an intermediate phalange.
  • The metacarpals connect the carpal bones of the wrist with the phalanges (finger bones).

• Tarsals, Metatarsals, and Phalanges (The Foot)

  • The human ankle and foot bones include tarsals (ankle), metatarsals (middle bones), and phalanges (toes).
  • The proximal base articulates with the cuboid bones, and distally with the proximal phalanges, and each metatarsal also articulates laterally with adjacent metatarsals.
  • With the exception of the big toe, each digit contains a proximal, intermediate, and distal phalange; the big toe lacks an intermediate phalange.
  • The length of the phalanges decreases distally.
  • The foot contains the proximal tarsals that form the ankle and heel; intermediate metatarsals; and the distal phalanges that form the toes.

• The Appendicular Skeleton

  • The hands  have 54 bones: The left and right carpals (wrist, 16), metacarpals (10), proximal phalanges (10), intermediate phalanges (8), and the distal phalanges (10).
  • The feet and ankles have 52 bones: The left and right tarsals (ankle, 14), metatarsals (10), proximal phalanges (10), intermediate phalanges (8), and distal phalanges (10).
  • The fingers and thumb contain a total of 14 bones, called phalanges.
  • These consist of the femur, patella, tibia, fibula, tarsal bones, metatarsal bones, and phalanges.
  • The bones of the foot are divided into three groups, the tarsal bones, metatarsal bones, and phalanges of the foot. 

• Overview of the Appendicular Skeleton

  • There are many constituents in the hand and wrist; the left and right carpals (16 bones in the wrist), Metacarpals (10 bones), Proximal phalanges (10 bones), Middle phalanges (eight bones), and Distal phalanges (10 bones).
  • Feet and ankle (52 bones) - The feet and ankle consist of the tarsals (14 bones in the ankle), Metatarsals (10 bones), Proximal phalanges (10 bones), Middle phalanges (eight bones), and Distal phalanges (10 bones).

• Human Appendicular Skeleton

  • The hand includes the eight bones of the carpus (wrist), the five bones of the metacarpus (palm), and the 14 bones of the phalanges (digits).
  • Each digit consists of three phalanges, except for the thumb, which, when present, has only two.
  • The metatarsals are the five bones of the foot, while the phalanges are the 14 bones of the toes .
  • The lower limb consists of the thigh (femur), kneecap (patella), leg (tibia and fibula), ankle (tarsals), and foot (metatarsals and phalanges) bones.
  • This drawing shows the bones of the human foot and ankle, including the metatarsals and the phalanges.

• Muscles that Cause Movement at the Foot

  • Actions - Flexes the toes at the proximal interphalangeal (between the phalanges preoxmales and phalanges mediae) joints.
  • Actions - Flexes at the metatarsophalangeal (between the metatarsals and phalanges proximale) joints, while extending the interphalangeal joints (between the phalanges proximale and phalanges mediae).
  • Attaches to the medial sides of the phalanges of digits three to five.

• Bone and Joint Disorders

  • Gout presenting in the metatarsal-phalangeal joint of the big toe: Note the slight redness of the skin overlying the joint.

• Gross Anatomy