Bone: Metacarpals
The five metacarpal bones, numbered.
Multiple fractures of the metacarpals (aka broken hand).
Latin	metacarpalia
Gray's	subject #55 227
Origins	steph rox
MeSH	Metacarpus

The metacarpus is the intermediate part of the hand skeleton that is located between the phalanges (bones of the fingers) distally and the carpus which forms the connection to the forearm. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Introduction ( classes Long bones body or Diaphysis Medullary canal Medical Subject Headings ( MeSH) is a huge Controlled vocabulary (or metadata system for the purpose of indexing journal articles and books The hands ( med / lat: manus pl manūs are the two intricate prehensile multi- Fingered body parts normally located at the end of each arm of a In Biology, the skeleton is a strong and often a rigid framework that supports the body of an animal holding it upright and giving it shape and strength (Also skeletal The name Phalanx (plural phalanges) is commonly given to the Bones that form Fingers and Toes In Primates such as Humans In fields of Anatomy, anatomical terms of location are descriptive terms to help identify relative positions or directions within a species In Tetrapods the carpus is the sole cluster of the Bones in the Wrist between the radius and Ulna and the Metacarpus The forearm is the structure on the Upper limb, between the elbow and the Wrist. The metacarpus consists of metacarpal bones.

Contents 1 Common characteristics of the metacarpal bones 1.1 Body 1.2 Base 1.3 Head 2 Articulations 3 See also 4 Additional images

Common characteristics of the metacarpal bones

Each consists of a body and two extremities.

Body

The body (corpus; shaft) is prismoid in form, and curved, so as to be convex in the longitudinal direction behind, concave in front.

It presents three surfaces: medial, lateral, and dorsal.

• The medial and lateral surfaces are concave, for the attachment of the interosseus muscles, and separated from one another by a prominent anterior ridge.

• The dorsal surface presents in its distal two-thirds a smooth, triangular, flattened area which is covered in by the tendons of the Extensor muscles. This surface is bounded by two lines, which commence in small tubercles situated on either side of the digital extremity, and, passing upward, converge and meet some distance above the center of the bone and form a ridge which runs along the rest of the dorsal surface to the carpal extremity. This ridge separates two sloping surfaces for the attachment of the Interossei dorsales.

To the tubercles on the digital extremities are attached the collateral ligaments of the metacarpophalangeal joints. The metacarpophalangeal joints (MCP are of the Condyloid kind formed by the reception of the rounded heads of the Metacarpal bones into shallow cavities on the

Base

The base or carpal extremity (basis) is of a cuboidal form, and broader behind than in front: it articulates with the carpus, and with the adjoining metacarpal bones; its dorsal and volar surfaces are rough, for the attachment of ligaments.

Head

The head or digital extremity (capitulum) presents an oblong surface markedly convex from before backward, less so transversely, and flattened from side to side; it articulates with the proximal phalanx.

It is broader, and extends farther upward, on the volar than on the dorsal aspect, and is longer in the antero-posterior than in the transverse diameter.

On either side of the head is a tubercle for the attachment of the collateral ligament of the metacarpophalangeal joint.

The dorsal surface, broad and flat, supports the tendons of the extensor muscles; the volar surface is grooved in the middle line for the passage of the Flexor tendons, and marked on either side by an articular eminence continuous with the terminal articular surface.

Articulations

Besides their phalangeal articulations, the metacarpal bones articulate as follows:

• the first with the greater multangular;
• the second with the greater multangular, lesser multangular, capitate and third metacarpal;
• the third with the capitate and second and fourth metacarpals;
• the fourth with the capitate, hamate, and third and fifth metacarpals;
• and the fifth with the hamate and fourth metacarpal. A joint is the location at which two or more Bones make contact

See also

• Bone terminology
• Boxer's fracture
• Terms for anatomical location

Additional images

		First metacarpal bone	Second metacarpal bone
Third metacarpal bone	Fourth metacarpal bone	Fifth metacarpal bone

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. Bones are rigid organs that form part of the Endoskeleton of Vertebrates They function to move support and protect the various organs of the body produce A boxer's fracture, also known as the brawler's fracture, is the common name for a fracture at the neck of the Fifth metacarpal bone In fields of Anatomy, anatomical terms of location are descriptive terms to help identify relative positions or directions within a species The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone Henry Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body (or Gray's Anatomy as it has commonly been shortened is an English-language Human anatomy Textbook As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.

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