Hand 76900 225856326 2008-07-15T18:46:53Z Troy 07 4840301 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/66.207.141.195|66.207.141.195]] ([[User talk:66.207.141.195|talk]]) to last version by Theresa knott {{otheruses}}{{Refimprove|date=June 2008}} {{Infobox Anatomy |Name = Hand |Latin = manus |GraySubject = |GrayPage = |Image = Gray1234.png |Caption = Human left hand |Image2 = |Caption2 = |Precursor = |System = |Artery = |Vein = [[dorsal venous network of hand]] |Nerve = [[ulnar nerve]], [[median nerve]], [[radial nerve]] |Lymph = |MeshName = Hand |MeshNumber = A01.378.800.667 |DorlandsPre = |DorlandsSuf = }} The '''hands''' ([[Medicine|med.]]/[[Latin|lat.]]: manus, pl. manūs) are the two intricate, prehensile, multi-[[finger]]ed body parts normally located at the end of each arm of a [[human]] or other [[primate]]. They are the chief organs for physically manipulating the environment, using anywhere from the roughest motor skills (wielding a club) to the finest (threading a needle), and since the fingertips contain some of the densest areas of nerve endings on the human body, they are also the richest source of [[tactile]] feedback so that [[sense of touch]] is intimately associated with human hands. Like other paired organs (eyes, ears, legs), each hand is dominantly controlled by the opposing brain hemisphere, and thus [[handedness]], or preferred hand choice for single-handed activities such as writing with a pen, reflects a significant individual trait. == What constitutes a hand? == Many [[mammal]]s and other [[animal]]s have grasping appendages similar in form to a hand such as [[paw]]s, [[claw]]s, and talons, but these are not scientifically considered to be hands. The scientific use of the term ''hand'' to distinguish the terminations of the front paws from the hind ones is an example of [[anthropomorphism]]. The only true hands appear in the mammalian order of [[primates]]. Hands must also have opposable [[thumb]]s, as described later in the text. Humans have only two hands (except in cases of [[polymelia]]),<ref name="polymelia">{{cite web| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5032906.stm| title=Three-armed boy to have surgery| date=2006-05-31| publisher=BBC News| accessdate=2007-12-24}}</ref> which are attached to the arms. [[Ape]]s and [[monkey]]s are sometimes described as having four hands, because the toes are long and the [[hallux]] is opposable and looks more like a [[thumb]], thus enabling the feet to be used as hands. Also, some apes have toes that are longer than human fingers.<ref>http://www.ufovideo.net/BIGFOOTxSASQUATCHxHandsxFeetxlarge.jpg</ref> == Anatomy of the human hand == The human hand consists of a broad palm (metacarpus) with 5 digits, attached to the forearm by a joint called the wrist (carpus).<ref name="newton">{{cite web| url=http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/natbltn/600-699/nb611.htm| title=Nature Bulletin No. 611| date=1960-10-01| publisher=Division of Educational Programs, [[Argonne National Laboratory]]| accessdate=2007-12-24}}</ref><ref name='oed_hand'>{{OED|hand}}</ref> The back of the hand is formally called the dorsum of the hand. === Digits === The four [[finger]]s on the hand are used for the outermost performance; these four digits 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 from the others: * [[index finger]] ([[Medicine|med.]]/[[Latin|lat.]]:digitus secundus manus), pointer finger, or forefinger * [[middle finger]] ([[Medicine|med.]]/[[Latin|lat.]]:digitus me´dius) * [[ring finger]] ([[Medicine|med.]]/[[Latin|lat.]]:digitus annula´ris) * [[little finger]] ([[Medicine|med.]]/[[Latin|lat.]]:digitus mi´nimus ma´nus) or 'pinky' The [[thumb]] (connected to the [[trapezium (bone)|trapezium]]) is located on one of the [[sides]], parallel to the arm. The thumb can be easily rotated 90°, on a level perpendicular to the palm, unlike the other fingers which can only be rotated approximately 45°. A reliable way of identifying true hands is from the presence of [[opposable thumb]]s. Opposable thumbs are identified by the ability to be brought opposite to the fingers, a muscle action known as [[Anatomical terms of motion|opposition]]. === Bones === {{main|phalanx bones}} [[Image:X-ray boy hand.jpg|thumb|An [[x-ray]] showing the bones of the human hand.]] [[Image:Scheme_human_hand_bones-en.svg|thumb|Illustration depicting the bones of the human hand]] The human hand has 27 bones: the [[carpal bone|carpus]] or wrist account for 8; the [[metacarpus]] or palm contains 5; the remaining 14 are digital bones; fingers and thumb. The eight bones of the wrist are arranged in two rows of four. These bones fit into a shallow socket formed by the bones of the forearm. The bones of proximal row are (from lateral to medial): [[scaphoid]], [[lunate bone|lunate]], [[triquetral]] and [[pisiform]]. The bones of the distal row are (from lateral to medial): [[trapezium (bone)|trapezium]], [[trapezoid bone|trapezoid]], [[capitate]] and [[hamate]]. The palm has 5 bones ([[metacarpals]]), one to each of the 5 digits. These metacarpals have a head and a shaft. Human hands contain 14 digital bones, also called phalanx bones: 2 in the thumb (the thumb has no middle phalanx) and 3 in each of the four fingers. These are: * the distal phalanx, carrying the nail, * the middle phalanx and * the proximal phalanx. [[Sesamoid bone]]s are small [[ossified]] nodes embedded in the tendons to provide extra leverage and reduce pressure on the underlying tissue. Many exist around the palm at the bases of the digits; the exact number varies between different people. ===Articulations=== <!--articulations of hand redirects here--> Also of note is that the articulation of the human hand is more complex and delicate than that of comparable organs in any other animals. Without this extra articulation, we would not be able to operate a wide variety of tools and devices. The hand can also form a [[fist]], for example in combat, or as a [[gesture]]. The articulations are: *[[interphalangeal articulations of hand]] *[[metacarpophalangeal joint]]s *[[intercarpal articulations]] *[[wrist]] (may also be viewed as belonging to the [[forearm]].) ===Muscles and tendons=== The movements of the human hand are accomplished by two sets of each of these tissues. They can be subdivided into two groups: the extrinsic and intrinsic muscle groups. The extrinsic muscle groups are the long flexors and extensors. They are called extrinsic because the muscle belly is located on the forearm. The intrinsic muscle groups are the [[thenar]] and [[hypothenar]] muscles (thenar referring to the thumb, hypothenar to the small finger), the [[interosseus muscle]]s (between the metacarpal bones, [[dorsal interossei of the hand|four dorsally]] and [[palmar interossei muscles|three volarly]]) and the [[lumbricals of the hand|lumbrical muscles]]. These muscles arise from the [[flexor digitorum profundus muscle|deep flexor]] (and are special because they have no bony origin) and insert on the dorsal extensor hood mechanism. The fingers have two long flexors, located on the underside of the forearm. They insert by tendons to the phalanges of the fingers. The deep flexor attaches to the distal phalanx, and the superficial flexor attaches to the middle phalanx. The flexors allow for the actual bending of the fingers. The thumb has one long flexor and a short flexor in the thenar muscle group. The human thumb also has other muscles in the thenar group (opponens- and [[abductor muscle]]), moving the thumb in opposition, making grasping possible. The extensors are located on the back of the forearm and are connected in a more complex way than the flexors to the dorsum of the fingers. The tendons unite with the interosseous and lumbrical muscles to form the extensorhood mechanism. The primary function of the extensors is to straighten out the digits. The thumb has two extensors in the forearm; the tendons of these form the [[anatomical snuff box]]. Also, the index finger and the little finger have an extra extensor, used for instance for pointing. The extensors are situated within 6 separate compartments. The 1st compartment contains abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis. The 2nd compartment contains extensors carpi radialis longus and brevis. The 3rd compartment contains extensor pollicis longus. The extensor digitorum indicis and extensor digititorum communis are within the 4th compartment. Extensor digiti minimi is in the fifth, and extensor carpi ulnaris is in the 6th. === Variation === Some people have more than the usual number of fingers or toes, a condition called [[polydactyly]].<ref name="polydactyly">{{cite web| url=http://www.hmc.psu.edu/healthinfo/pq/poly.htm |title=Polydactyly and Syndactyly| publisher=Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, [[Pennsylvania State University]]| accessdate=2007-12-24}}</ref> Others may have more than the typical number of metacarpal bones, a condition often caused by genetic disorders like [[Catel-Manzke syndrome]]. The average length of an adult male hand is 189&nbsp;[[millimetre|mm]], while the average length of an adult female hand is 172&nbsp;mm. The average hand breadth for adult males and females is 84 and 74&nbsp;mm respectively.<ref name="ispub">{{cite journal| last=Agnihotri| first=A. K.| coauthors=B. Purwar, N. Jeebun, S. Agnihotri| title=Determination Of Sex By Hand Dimensions| volume=1| issue=2| publisher=The Internet Journal of Forensic Science| date=2006| url=http://www.ispub.com/ostia/index.php?xmlFilePath=journals/ijfs/vol1n2/hand.xml| accessdate=2007-12-24}}</ref> ==Additional images== <gallery> Image:Gray416.png| Image:Gray423.png| Image:Gray424.png| Image:Gray425.png| Image:HandAnthropometry.JPG|Static adult human [[Anthropometry|physical characteristics]] of the hand. </gallery> ==See also== *[[Hand strength]] *[[Dermatoglyphics]] *[[Digit ratio]] *[[Handanalysis]] *[[Hand fetishism]] *[[Handstand]] *[[Hand walking]] *[[Pentadactyl limb]] *[[Reflexology]] *[[Handedness]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{portalpar|Biology}} {{sisterlinks}} *[http://www.handuniversity.com/handschool.asp Hand injuries and diseases (Handuniversity.com)] *[http://www.emedicine.com/plastic/topic296.htm Hand anatomy (eMedicine)] *[http://eatonhand.com/hw/facts.htm Interesting facts about the hands] {{human anatomical features}} {{Upper limb general}} [[Category:Upper limb anatomy]] [[Category:Hand|*]] [[ar:يد]] [[an:Man]] [[arc:ܐܝܕܐ]] [[ay:Ampara]] [[ca:Mà]] [[cs:Ruka]] [[cy:Llaw]] [[da:Hånd]] [[de:Hand]] [[es:Mano]] [[eo:Mano]] [[fa:دست]] [[fr:Main]] [[ko:손]] [[io:Manuo]] [[id:Tangan]] [[it:Mano]] [[he:כף יד]] [[la:Manus]] [[ml:കൈപ്പത്തി]] [[nl:Hand]] [[cr:ᒥᑎᐦᒌ]] [[ja:手]] [[nrm:Main]] [[pl:Dłoń]] [[pt:Mão]] [[qu:Maki]] [[ru:Кисть]] [[simple:Hand]] [[sk:Články prstov]] [[sl:Roka]] [[fi:Käsi]] [[sv:Hand]] [[th:มือ]] [[tr:El]] [[uk:Кисть]] [[yi:האנט]] [[diq:Dest]] [[zh:手]]