Bones of the hand
Each hand has 27 bones: 8 wrist (carpal) bones, 5 long hand bones, and 14 finger bones. They line up like a stack of building blocks that lets the hand grip, pinch, and rotate.
Anatomy of the hand
Structures the library refers to — plain language first. For joint-by-joint detail see the hand joints guide.
Optional clinical names: Settings → Learn library display
Anatomy
8 core topics
8 topics in the anatomy library.
Filter topics by structure name or everyday words. Clinical labels appear in cards when Learn library display is set to show them. Press slash (/) anywhere on this page outside a text field to jump to search.
Tendons
Tendons are tough cords that connect muscles in the forearm to the bones of the hand. They glide through tunnels (sheaths) every time you bend or straighten a finger.
Nerves
Three main nerves run from the neck to the hand: median, ulnar, and radial. They carry feeling and movement signals; pressure on any of them can cause numbness, tingling, or weakness.
Joints of the hand
Each finger has three joints: the big knuckle, middle joint, and tip joint. The thumb has a saddle joint at its base that lets it move in many directions.
Muscles of the hand
Hand movement comes from two muscle groups: long muscles in the forearm that pull on tendons, and small muscles inside the hand itself ('intrinsics') that fine-tune finger position and pinch.
Wrist anatomy
The wrist is two rows of small bones plus the ends of the forearm bones (radius and ulna). Strong ligaments link them so the wrist can bend, extend, and tilt while still bearing load.
Blood supply
Two main arteries — the radial (thumb side) and ulnar (little-finger side) — feed the hand. They join in two arches in the palm so most fingers stay supplied even if one route is blocked.
Skin & fascia
Palm skin is thicker and anchored down so it doesn't slide while gripping. Underneath sits a tough fibrous layer (the palmar fascia) that protects deeper structures and can become diseased in conditions like Dupuytren's.