Different Names for the Fingers and Knuckles







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One problem in hand analysis is the different names used for the fingers and knuckles. While the medical community has adopted standard anatomy terms, the field of hand analysis still uses its own set of names for different parts of the hand.

For example: In hand analysis the tip segment of the middle finger is called the 2nd finger's 1st phalanx, whereas in anatomy the same body part is considered the 3rd finger's 3rd phalanx.

A normal hand has a thumb and 4 fingers. Each finger has 3 bone segments and 3 joints. The thumb has 2 bone segments and 2 joints. The segments are known as phalanges (plural of phalanx).

For the purpose of this page, the following common part names are used:

"Tip Segment" - The phalanx with the fingernail.

- The phalanx with the fingernail. "Middle Segment" - The middle phalanx.

- The middle phalanx. "Base Segment" - The phalanx closest to the hand.

- The phalanx closest to the hand. "Top Knuckle" - The upper joint, closest to the fingernail.

- The upper joint, closest to the fingernail. "Middle Knuckle" - The middle joint.

- The middle joint. "Base Knuckle" - The joint that connects a finger to the hand.





All Fingers

Part Anatomical Names Hand Analysis Names Tip Segments Distal phalanges

3rd phalanges 1st segments

1st phalanges Middle Segments Middle phalanges

2nd phalanges 2nd segments

2nd phalanges Base Segments Proximal phalanges

1st phalanges 3rd segments

3rd phalanges Top Knuckles Distal interphalangeal joints

DIP joints 1st knuckles

1st knots Middle Knuckles Proximal interphalangeal joints

PIP joints 2nd knuckles

2nd knots Base Knuckles 1st joints

Knuckles 3rd knuckles

3rd knots





Thumb

Part Anatomical Names Hand Analysis Names The thumb 1st finger Thumb Tip Segment Distal phalanx

2nd phalanx 1st phalanx

1st segment Base Segment Proximal phalanx

1st phalanx 2nd phalanx

2nd segment Top Knuckle Distal interphalangeal joint

DIP joint 1st knuckle Base Knuckle Knuckle

1st joint 2nd knuckle

Temper bump





Finger Names

Part Anatomical Names Hand Analysis Names Index Finger 2nd finger 1st finger

Jupiter finger Middle Finger 3rd finger 2nd finger

Saturn finger Ring Finger 4th finger 3rd finger

Apollo finger Baby Finger 5th finger 4th finger

Mercury finger



Article written: December 2, 2005



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