What are phalanges in the human body?
Elijah King
Updated on March 08, 2026
What are phalanges in the human body?
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.
What are phalanges in foot?
The phalanges (single: phalanx) of the feet are the tubular bones of the toes. The second to fifth toes each contain a proximal, middle and distal phalanx whereas the great toe (hallux) only contains a proximal and distal phalanx.
What is a phalange on a finger?
The phalanges of the hand are the group of small bones that comprise the bony core of the digits (fingers) of the hand. There are fourteen phalanges in each hand; each of the medial four digits has three phalanges (proximal, middle and distal), while the thumb has only two (proximal and distal).
What are the main functions of phalanges?
The phalanges play a vital role in the movement and flexibility of digits, as well as the whole hand. These bones allow us to flex and fold the fingers and thumb to hold or pick something up, and carry on all daily activities like using a phone, typing, eating and so on.
What bone articulates with the humerus and carpal bones?
radius
The radius and the ulna are long, slightly curved bones that lie parallel from the elbow, where they articulate with the humerus, to the wrist, where they articulate with the carpals. The radius is located laterally, near the thumb, and the ulna medially, near the little finger.
How many phalanges are in adult?
There are 56 phalanges (bones) in the human body, with fourteen on each hand and foot. Three phalanges are present on each finger and toe, with the exception of the thumb and large toe, which possess only two.
How many phalanges in your feet?
Phalanges (singular: phalanx) – the 14 bones that make up the toes. The big toe consists of two phalanges – the distal and proximal. The other toes have three.
Are your toes considered phalanges?
The phalanges are long bones in the foot located distal to the metatarsals. Like in the hand, each toe consists of three phalanges, which are named the proximal, middle and distal phalanges. However, the hallux (great toe) only has two phalanges, a proximal and a distal one.
Whats the definition of phalanges?
2 plural phalanges : one of the digital bones of the hand or foot of a vertebrate. 3 plural usually phalanxes. a : a massed arrangement of persons, animals, or things a phalanx of armed guards.
How do you identify phalanges?
The digits are named in a similar fashion to the metacarpals, moving lateral to medial, and starting at the thumb. 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.
Is phalanges a long bone?
Long bones are mostly located in the appendicular skeleton and include bones in the lower limbs (the tibia, fibula, femur, metatarsals, and phalanges) and bones in the upper limbs (the humerus, radius, ulna, metacarpals, and phalanges).
What bone articulates with trochlea?
ulna
The capitulum laterally articulates with the radius; the trochlea, a spool-shaped surface, articulates with the ulna.