What are Phalanges?
Phalanges are the bones that make up the fingers of your hands and the toes of your feet. Each finger and toe (except for the thumbs and big toes) contains three phalanges: the distal, middle, and proximal phalanx. Thumbs and big toes have only two: the distal and proximal phalanx. In total, there are 56 phalanges in the human body—14 in each hand and 14 in each foot.
- Location: Located in both the hands and feet, they are the most distal bones of the digits.
- Number: Each hand and foot contains 14 phalanges. This adds up to a total of 56 phalanges in the entire human body. The thumb and big toe each have two phalanges, while the other fingers and toes have three.
- Types: As mentioned, each finger and toe (except the thumb and big toe) contains three phalanges:
- Distal phalanx: The farthest bone from the hand or foot.
- Middle phalanx: The bone in the middle.
- Proximal phalanx: The bone closest to the hand or foot.
- Function: Phalanges enable a wide range of movement and dexterity in the hands and feet, crucial for activities like gripping, walking, and running.
These bones are long bones, and their structure contributes significantly to the fine motor skills of the hands and the weight-bearing capabilities of the feet. Note that while the term phalanges refers to all of these bones collectively, a single bone is called a phalanx.
Several sources corroborate this information:
- Johns Hopkins Medicine: Their Anatomy of the Hand page states that phalanges are found in both fingers and toes, numbering 14 in each.
- Wikipedia: The Phalanx bone page highlights their presence in the hands and feet of most vertebrates and notes the differing number of phalanges in thumbs/big toes versus other digits.
- Study.com: Their lesson on Phalanges details their location and the three types (distal, middle, proximal) present in most digits.
- SEER Training: The Appendicular Skeleton illustration shows phalanges as part of the appendicular skeleton, listing 28 in total (though this seems to be an error and refers to either hands or feet only, as indicated in other sources).
