Britannica Sources used in this answer

How are the bones of the hand arranged?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Front and back views of the human skeleton are shown side by side, with labeled bones including the skull, spine, ribs, pelvis, arms, legs, hands, and feet. Insets detail the bones of the foot and hand, highlighting major bone groups and anatomical terms. — human skeleton Front and back views of the human skeleton.

The human hand is a highly specialized structure designed for complex movement and manipulation, supported by a framework of bones arranged in distinct segments.1

Arrangement of Hand Bones

The skeletal structure of the hand is organized into three primary groups:

Carpals: The wrist consists of eight small carpal bones arranged in two rows of four.21
- The proximal row (closest to the forearm) includes the scaphoid, lunate, triangular, and pisiform bones.2
- The distal row (closest to the fingers) includes the trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, and hamate bones.2
Metacarpals: These five bones form the palm of the hand. The distal row of carpal bones is firmly attached to these metacarpal bones.32
Phalanges: These are the bones of the fingers. The thumb is particularly significant, consisting of the first metacarpal and two phalanges, which allow for unique movements such as opposition.1

The complex articulation of these bones, particularly within the wrist, provides the hand with its wide range of motion and flexibility.3