Learn about the anatomy and features of the hand, wrist and foot.
Structure of the Hand and Wrist
The hand has five fingers. The outermost one is the thumb, and the other four are the fingers in the narrow sense. The wrist contains the joints formed by the radioulnar joint, the radius, the ulna, the phalanges (finger bones) and the metacarpals.
- The fingers are the thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger and little finger
- In the wrist joint, ligaments stabilize the many bones, and muscles and tendons support movement
- The median nerve, ulnar nerve, radial artery and ulnar artery run through the wrist
Anatomical Form and Features of the Hand
Each finger except the thumb consists of one metacarpal bone and three phalanges.
- The metacarpophalangeal joints lie between the metacarpals and the phalanges
- Horizontal skin creases are found where the joints between the finger segments are located
- The fingers have flexor and extensor tendons, with nerves and blood vessels running along both sides
- Many muscles that move the fingers and wrist are located in the wrist
- Ligaments between the many bones of the wrist joint provide stability
- The hand grasps objects and provides the sense of touch
- It can perform finer movements than any other part of the body
- Tendons and ligaments of the wrist joint control flexion and extension of the wrist
The foot is the part of the body that supports it. Its main roles are to support the body when standing or walking and to absorb impact during movement. It has four arches: the medial longitudinal arch, the lateral longitudinal arch, the forefoot transverse arch and the midfoot transverse arch. These arches absorb shock when you stand, walk and run. Without them, the foot's ability to spring back would be greatly reduced and it could not absorb impact during movement.
Structure of the Foot
Each foot consists of 26 bones and is divided into three parts: the hindfoot, the midfoot and the forefoot. It is also made up of joints, muscles, tendons and other tissues.
- The heel bone is the largest bone in the foot and is the first to bear body weight when walking
- The big toe has 2 bones, and each of the other toes has 3
- The big toe is the largest because it bears the most force when moving and standing
- The foot has 19 muscles and tendons, 18 of which are in the sole
- 107 ligaments help the foot withstand tension and twisting
- Sole (plantar side): the part that touches the floor or ground
- Dorsum (top of the foot): the upper side of the foot
- Heel: the area of the sole below the calcaneus (heel bone)
- Bones: 7 tarsal bones, 5 metatarsal bones and 14 phalanges
