Do you want to know the names given to the different human hand bones? There are almost thirty bones in each of our hands. Furthermore, these bones require movable joints to perform movements with precision. Note that the hand is divided into three parts when describing the bones it contains; carpals, metacarpals and phalanges. This is the approach we will also take in this OneHowTo article about what the names of human hand bones are.
The bones of the hand
The total number of bones in the human hand is is 27, these are divided into three different groups:
- Wrist bones or carpals
- Palm bones or metacarpals
- Finger bones or phalanges
Furthermore, other than bones hands also require a set of muscles and ligaments for movement.
The names of each of the hand's bones are named after the similarity to their shape, which helps to draw and identify each of the bones when learning about them.
Nomes of wrist bones or carpal bones
The bones of the wrist, also called carpal bones, are eight and these are arranged in two rows or groups:
- Bones of the distal row: trapezium, trapezoid, capitate and hamate. In the picture from step 1, you can locate them with the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4.
- Bones of the proximal row: pisiforme, pyramidal, scaphoid and lunate. 5, 6, 7 and 8 on the image.
The carpals are embedded in a small cavity formed in the bones of the forearm, i.e. the radius and ulna, though in really this is not articulated with any bones of the wrist.
Names of palm bones or metacarpals
As for the bones in the palm of a human hand, or metacarpals, these can also be divided according to their location, i.e. the corresponding finger ordered from the thumb outwards:
- First metacarpal
- Second metacarpal
- Third metacarpal
- Fourth metacarpal
- Fifth metacarpal
Names of bones of fingers or phalanges
The bones of the fingers are also called phalanges, and each finger has three phalanges except for the thumb which only has two:
- Proximal phalanges: located at the base of the finger, in the part known as the knuckles.
- Middle phalanges: non-existent in the thumb, are between the proximal and distal.
- Distal phalanges: located at the tip of the fingers.
Other body bones
If you want to know more about bones and the human anatomy, at OneHowTo we offer other useful articles such as the following:
- What is the hip bone called?
- What are the bones in the arms called?
If you want to read similar articles to The Name of Human Hand Bones, we recommend you visit our Learning category.