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Hand Anatomy

Hand Anatomy

Your hands play an essential role in your everyday functioning. House chores, using a mobile phone, typing and playing sports—they all require critical functions to help you carry out fine and gross motor skills.

Several structures work together to make up your hands. They include:

Bones of the Hand

The 27 bones in your hand are distributed in your fingers, palms and wrists, divided into these three categories:

Joints

Your hand contains several joints that allow you to bend and straighten it, among other functions. There are three types of joints, which are classified by their location in the hand:

Ligaments and Tendons

The major ligaments in your hand help stabilize your hand movements, preventing joints from bending too far sideways or backward.

Extensor tendons: The extensor tendons attach under your skin on the back of your wrist and fingers. They allow you to straighten your thumb and fingers.

Muscles

Many of the muscles that operate the hand are attached in the elbow or forearm and extend down to your hands. Some muscles are responsible for bending or straightening the wrists; others move the fingers or thumbs. Some small muscles that work our fingers and thumbs are anchored on our carpal bones.

Blood Vessels and Nerves

Your hand nerves begin at your shoulder. They travel down the arm into the hand alongside 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. They also carry signals from the hand back to the brain to communicate sensations like touch, pain and temperature.

Conditions That Affect Hand Anatomy

Your hands are powerful, yet delicate structures. Issues within any part of the hand can lead to swelling and pain that limit your ability to use your hands.

Conditions That Affect Bones and Tendons

Conditions That Affect Hand Nerves

Carpal tunnel syndrome: Narrowing of the carpal tunnel at the wrist, causing compression of the median nerve. This can cause numbness or tingling in the thumb or index, middle and ring fingers.

Sprains and Strains

A hand sprain involves damage to a ligament, the tissue that connects bones. Hand strains affect muscles and tendons, the tissues connecting your muscles to a bone. Falling on an outstretched hand is one of the main causes. These falls typically happen during sports or other high-impact activities. Both strains and sprains cause pain and can make it difficult to move your hand as you usually would.

Find your Summit Orthopedics hand and wrist care expert, request an appointment or call us at (651) 968-5201 to schedule a consultation.

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