Skip to content

Hand Anatomy

Hand anatomy overview

Whether we are extending a hand in friendship or lending a hand at work, we depend on our hands as we move through our day. We need flexibility and coordination to position our fingers and thumbs as we use a keyboard, play an instrument, or perform other fine motor skills. Muscle strength enables us to bend or straighten our wrist, and to grip objects.

The structures of the hand include:

Our ability to use our hands depends on how well our bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels work together. Because the function of our hands is integrated through our wrists and arms to our shoulders, a problem anywhere along our arm may have a significant impact on hand function and quality of life.

Bones of the hand

The 27 bones in the hand can be categorized by position:

Connective tissues

The hand’s bones are held together by a system of ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels.

Ligaments

Ligaments are tough bands of tissue that connect bones and stabilize joints. Ligaments tighten as a finger is straightened, and keep the finger bones from bending back too far, or hyperextending the joint.

Tendons

Tendons attach to muscles in the forearm. They travel from the forearm through the wrist and into the fingers. The tendons attached to the underside of the forearm bones bend the thumb and fingers; they are called flexors. The tendons that straighten our thumb and fingers connect to the top of the forearm bones, and are called extensors.

Muscles

Most of the muscles that operate the hand are anchored in the elbow or forearm. Some muscles are responsible for bending or straightening the wrist; others move the fingers or thumb. Some of the small muscles that work our fingers and thumb are anchored on our carpal bones.

Nerves and blood vessels

The three nerves in the hand and fingers begin together at the shoulder. These nerves travel down into the hand side by side with the blood vessels that supply the hand with blood. Nerves carry signals from the brain to move the muscles in the arm, hand, fingers, and thumb. These nerves also carry signals from the hand back to the brain to communicate sensations like touch, pain, and temperature.

Summit Orthopedics provides personalized hand and wrist expertise

The function of our hands is integrated through our wrists and arms to our shoulders; a problem anywhere along our arm may have a significant impact on hand function and quality of life. If you experience an injury or uncomfortable symptoms, our fellowship-trained hand and wrist surgeons are here to help. Summit physicians receive the highest levels of training and exclusively provide individualized care for conditions of the hand, wrist, and elbow.

Start your journey to better function and less pain. Find your hand expert, request an appointment online, or call us at (651) 968–5201 to schedule a consultation.

Summit has convenient locations across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. We have state-of-the-art centers for comprehensive orthopedic care in Eagan, MNPlymouth, MNVadnais Heights, MN, and Woodbury, MN, as well as additional community clinics throughout the metro and southern Minnesota.

Related resources for you

Close