Description
The distal phalanges of the hand are one of the three rows of bones of the digits, the other two being the proximal and middle phalanges. There are five distal phalanges of the hand, each classified as a long bone, which form the distal segments of each digit. They are located distal to the proximal phalanx of the thumb and the middle phalanges of the index, middle, ring and little fingers.
Overall, the proximal phalanges are the largest and longest of the phalanges in the hand, the distal phalanges are the smallest and shortest, and the middle phalanges are intermediate in size. The proximal and middle phalanges share a similar morphology, while the distal phalanges are different in appearance.
Related parts of the anatomy
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
Distal Phalanx
A Seymour fracture is a juxtaepiphyseal fracture of the distal phalanx of the finger, associated with an avulsion of the proximal edge of the nail from the eponychial fold.