Hand Bones & Wrist Bones (Phalanges, Carpals, Metacarpals): Anatomy and Physiology

RegisteredNurseRN・2 minutes read

The hand and wrist consist of 14 phalanges, 5 metacarpals, and 8 carpals, totaling 54 bones in the adult skeleton. Each finger has three long bones, except the thumb, which has two, while the metacarpus contains five metacarpal bones with unique shapes.

Insights

  • The hand and wrist bones consist of 14 phalanges, 5 metacarpals, and 8 carpals, totaling 54 bones in the adult skeleton, with each finger having three long bones except the thumb, which has two.
  • The metacarpus contains five metacarpal bones with distinct numbering and structure, while the wrist area houses eight carpals with unique names based on their shapes, collectively forming the appendicular skeleton.

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Recent questions

  • How many bones are in the hand and wrist?

    54 bones

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Summary

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Hand and Wrist Bones: Anatomy Overview

  • The hand and wrist bones are part of the appendicular skeleton, consisting of mostly long bones and eight carpals classified as short bones by anatomists.
  • In total, the hand and wrist comprise 14 phalanges, 5 metacarpals, and 8 carpals, totaling 54 bones in the adult skeleton.
  • Each finger, including the thumb, index, middle, ring, and little finger, is numbered one through five, with three long bones called phalanges in each finger, except the thumb which has two.
  • The metacarpus contains five metacarpal bones numbered one through five, with each having a base, shaft, and head articulating with the phalanges, while the wrist area holds eight carpals with unique names based on their shapes.
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