Parts of a Hand

Hands are made up of more bones and moving parts than most other areas of the body. When they’re healthy, these parts all work together. They perform a large number of tasks. Hands do everything from very delicate movements to feats of strength.

• Bones are hard tissues that give your hand shape and stability.

• Phalanges are the finger bones.

• Metacarpals are the middle part of the hand bones.

• Carpals  are the wrist bones.

• Joints are places where bones fit together, allowing movement.

• Ligaments are soft tissues that connect bone to bone and stabilize your joints.

• Muscles are soft tissues that contract (tighten) and relax to move your hand.

• The synovial lining produces the fluid inside your joints that helps make movement smooth.

• Volar plates are hard tissues that stabilize the joints, keeping fingers from bending backward.

• Tendon sheaths are fluid-filled tubes that surround, protect, and guide the tendons.

• Tendons are cordlike soft tissues that connect muscle to bone.

• Blood vessels carry blood to and from your hand.

• Nerves send and receive messages, allowing you to feel and direct movement.

• The palmar fascia is a firm layer of soft tissue that stabilizes the palm of your hand.