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Bones of the Hand Quiz
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Which statement best describes the arrangement of phalanges in the human hand?
- A All digits of the hand have two phalanges. You picked ✕
- B Phalanges articulate directly with the carpal bones. You picked ✕
- C Only the index and middle fingers have three phalanges. You picked ✕
- D The thumb has three phalanges, while the other digits have two. You picked ✕
- E Each digit has three phalanges, except the thumb which has two. You picked ✓
Correct!
Incorrect
The answer is E: Each digit has three phalanges, except the thumb which has two.
Explanation
Why E is correct
See Phalanges. Option E is correct because every finger has three phalanges, the proximal, middle and distal phalanx, except the thumb, which has only two, a proximal and a distal phalanx, because it has no middle phalanx. Phalanges (the singular is phalanx) are the bones of the digits. Proximal means nearest the wrist and distal means furthest from it, so the proximal phalanx is the one that joins the metacarpal and the distal phalanx is the one at the fingertip. Each phalanx has a base, a shaft and a head. This pattern fixes the joints: a finger has a metacarpophalangeal joint, a proximal interphalangeal joint and a distal interphalangeal joint, whereas the thumb has only one interphalangeal joint after its metacarpophalangeal joint. The same pattern is seen in the foot, where the big toe has two phalanges and the other toes have three. Memory aid: the thumb and big toe are the odd ones out, each with two phalanges while the other digits have three.
- Fingers: each finger has three phalanges, the proximal, middle and distal.
- Thumb: the thumb has only two phalanges, a proximal and a distal, because it has no middle phalanx.
- Foot: the big toe has two phalanges and the other toes have three.
Why the other options are incorrect
- A. All digits of the hand have two phalanges.: Not every digit has two phalanges, because each of the four fingers has a middle phalanx as well. Only the thumb has two. Your answer
- B. Phalanges articulate directly with the carpal bones.: Phalanges articulate with the metacarpals and with each other, not directly with the carpal bones. The metacarpals lie between the carpals and the fingers. Your answer
- C. Only the index and middle fingers have three phalanges.: All four fingers, not only the index and middle fingers, have three phalanges. The pattern does not vary between the fingers. Your answer
- D. The thumb has three phalanges, while the other digits have two.: This reverses the real pattern. The thumb has fewer phalanges than the fingers, not more, because it has no middle phalanx. Your answer
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More questions from this set. Start the quiz to answer them and see each explanation.
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1
Which carpal bone is the most lateral bone in the proximal row of the wrist?
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2
Which part of a metacarpal bone articulates with the carpal bones?
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