Phalanges

"Phalanges" redirects here. For the Lebanese Phalange, see Kataeb Party. For the Spanish political party, see Falange. For the ancient Greek military units, see Phalanx formation.

Phalanx bone

Illustration of the phalanges

The phalanges in a human hand
Latin	Phalanges
Articulations	Metacarpophalangeal, metatarsophalangeal, interphalangeal

In anatomy, phalanx bones (plural phalanges) are bones that form the skeleton of the toes and the fingers. In primates such as humans and monkeys, the thumbs and big toes have two phalanges while the other digits have three phalanges. They are also classified as long bones.

The phalanges do not have individual names. They are named for the digit they represent and their relative location from the center of the body (proximal or distal).

Proximal phalanges are closest to the main part of the hand or foot and articulate with the metacarpals of the hand or metatarsals of the foot.
Middle or intermediate phalanges are between the distal and proximal. The thumb and big toe do not have middle phalanges.
Distal phalanges are at the tips of the fingers and toes.

The term phalanx or phalanges refers to an ancient Greek army formation in which soldiers stand side by side, several rows deep, like an arrangement of fingers or toes.

1 Phalangeal formula
2 Additional images
3 See also
4 References

Phalangeal formula

The number of phalanges in animals is often expressed as a "phalangeal formula" that indicates the numbers of phalanges in digits, beginning from the innermost (medial or proximal).

Most land mammals including humans have a 2-3-3-3-3 formula in both the hands (or paws) and feet. Primitive reptiles typically had the formula 2-3-4-4-5, and this pattern, with some modification, remained in many later reptiles and in the mammal-like reptiles. The phalangeal formula in the flippers of cetaceans (marine mammals) is 2-12-8-1.

Additional images

Phalanges.
Phalanges.
Ankle joint. Deep dissection.
Ankle and tarsometarsal joints. Bones of foot.Deep dissection.
Ankle and tarsometatarsal joint. Deep dissection.Anterior view
Wrist joint. Deep dissection. Posterior view.
Wrist joint. Deep dissection.Anterior, palmar, view.
Wrist joint. Deep dissection.Anterior, palmar, view.
Interphalangeal ligaments and phalanges.Right hand. Deep dissection. Posterior (dorsal) view.

References

MedTerms.com Medical Dictionary

Bones (TA A02, GA 2)

Axial

Vertebral column

vertebrae (cervical, thoracic, lumbar)
sacrum
coccyx

Thoracic skeleton

sternum
rib

Skull

Neurocranium	occipital parietal frontal temporal sphenoid ethmoid

Facial bones	nasal maxilla lacrimal zygomatic palatine inferior nasal conchae vomer mandible THROAT: hyoid (greater cornu, lesser cornu, body)

Ossicles	malleus incus stapes

Appendicular

Upper	SHOULDER GIRDLE: clavicle scapula ARM: humerus ulna radius HAND: carpals (scaphoid, lunate bone, triquetral, pisiform, trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, hamate) metacarpals phalanges (prox, int, dist)

Lower	PELVIS: pelvis (ilium, ischium, pubis) LEG: femur patella fibula tibia FOOT: tarsals (calcaneus, talus, navicular, cuneiform, cuboid) metatarsals phalanges (prox, int, dist)

M: BON/CAR

anat (c/f/k/f, u, t/p, l)/phys/devp/cell

noco/cong/tumr, sysi/epon, injr

proc, drug (M5)

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Phalanges

Phalanges

Contents

Phalangeal formula

Additional images

See also

References

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