Human hand
Human Hand
The Human Hand (pronunciation: /ˈhjuːmən hænd/) is a prehensile, multi-fingered appendage located at the end of the forearm or forelimb of primates such as humans, chimpanzees, monkeys, and lemurs. A few other vertebrates such as the koala (which has two opposable thumbs on each "hand" and fingerprints remarkably similar to human fingerprints) are often described as having "hands" instead of paws on their front limbs.
Etymology
The word "hand" comes from the Old English hand, hond, in its sense of "hold, grasp, wield, manage". The term "hand" has been widely used to denote units of measurement, power, and control since ancient times.
Anatomy
The human hand consists of a broad palm (metacarpus) attached to the arm by the wrist (carpus), with five digits attached to the palm. The four fingers can be folded over the palm which allows the grasping of objects. Each finger, starting with the one closest to the thumb, has a colloquial name to distinguish it: index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger or 'pinky'. The thumb (connected to the trapezium) is located on one of the sides, parallel to the arm.
The palm has five bones known as metacarpal bones, one to each of the 5 digits. Human hands contain fourteen digital bones, also called phalanges, or phalanx bones: two in the thumb (the thumb has no middle phalanx) and three in each of the four fingers. These are the distal phalanx, carrying the nail, the middle phalanx, and the proximal phalanx.
Functions
The human hand has functions of both sensation and manipulation. The fingertips contain some of the densest areas of nerve endings in the body, are the richest source of tactile feedback, and have the greatest positioning capability of the body. This makes the hand an extremely sensitive and sophisticated tool for touch and proprioception.
Related Terms
- Carpus: The eight carpal bones are arranged in two rows in the human wrist.
- Metacarpus: The region of the hand also known as the palm.
- Phalanges: The bones of the fingers and thumb.
- Opposable Thumb: A thumb that can be placed opposite the fingers of the same hand.
- Fingerprints: The friction ridges on the skin on the palmar side of the hand.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Human hand
- Wikipedia's article - Human hand
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