"Phalanges" redirects here. For the Lebanese Phalange, see the Kataeb Party. For the Spanish political party, see Falange.
The phalanges in a human hand
Illustration of the phalanges
The name Phalanx (plural phalanges) is commonly given to the bones that form fingers and toes. In primates such as humans and monkeys, the thumb and big toe have two phalanges, while the other fingers and toes consist of three. Phalanges are classified as long bones.
The phalanges do not really have individual names but are named after the digit, and their distance from the body.
Middle or Intermediate phalanges are between the distal and proximal. The thumb and big toe do not have middle phalanges.
The term phalanx or phalanges refers to an ancient Greek army formation in which soldiers stand side by side, several rows deep, like an arrangement of fingers or toes.
The number of phalanges in animals is often expressed as a phalangeal formula, that indicates the numbers of phalanges in digits (beginning from medial), e.g. human has the formula 2-3-3-3-3, a deer has the formula 3-3 and most lizards have the formula 2-3-4-5-4.
