| Bone: Metacarpals | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| The five metacarpal bones, numbered. | |
 |
|
| Multiple fractures of the metacarpals (aka broken hand). |
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. The metacarpus consists of metacarpal bones.
Contents |
Common characteristics of the metacarpal bones
Each consists of a body and two extremities.
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 trapezium;
- the second with the trapezium, trapezoid, 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.
See also
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. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated.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.
|
|||||||||||||||||
Vickie and I doing The Cobbler and Beinn Narnain.
Author: metacarpal74
Keywords: nature adventure destination Beinn Narnain Cobbler hillwalk
Added: November 18, 2008
Metacarpal Mobilization
OT Class
Author: sotahouston
Keywords: physical science
Added: November 14, 2008
Taking Pin through hand
after surgical repair, this pin that was holding the 4th metacarpal in place is ready to come off
Author: raphreyes
Keywords: Hand Job
Added: October 22, 2008
Surgical Pin Removal at Dr. Lipson's
Two pins removed from right hand after motorcycle crash that shattered the 5th metacarpal at the wrist.
Author: jacobbflaggiv
Keywords: Surgical Pin Lipson
Added: October 14, 2008
Festo Robot Arm
Airics_arm is a robot arm with artificial bones and muscles. A total of 30 muscles move the bone structure which, as with our own arms, consists of ulna and radius, metacarpal and finger bones, a shoulder joint and a shoulder bone-joints that are otherwise not encountered in this formin the world of technology. Airics bones have not grown of their own accord, nor do they automatic- ally heal following a fracture. They were designed on computer and are grown in a three-dimensional polyamide structure using a state-of-the-art laser sintering process. The muscles, a product of Festo, are already widely found in industrial application under the name of Fluidic Muscles. These are tubes of elastomer reinforced with aramide fibres. When a Fluidic Muscle is filled with compressed air, its diameter increases and it is simultaneously shortened. http://www.precisionpneumatics.co.uk/pneumatics.php
Author: matthew070978
Keywords: Festo Robot arm Mechanics Gadget
Added: September 19, 2008