What is the metacarpal region?

What is the metacarpal region?

In four-legged animals, the metacarpal bones or metacarpus, form the intermediate part of the skeletal hand located between the phalanges of the fingers and the carpal bones. The metacarpal region forms part of the forefeet, and are frequently reduced in number, appropriate to the number of toes.

Where is metacarpal located?

hand
In humans the five metacarpals are flat at the back of the hand and bowed on the palmar side; they form a longitudinal arch that accommodates the muscles, tendons, and nerves of the palm. The metacarpals also form a transverse arch that allows the fingertips and thumb to be brought together for manipulation.

What type of bone is the metacarpal?

Short bones
Medical Definition of Bone type Short bones: Short bones also have a tubular shaft and articular surfaces at each end but are much smaller. The short bones include all of the metacarpals and phalanges in the hands, and the metatarsals and phalanges in the feet. Flat bones: Flat bones are thin and have broad surfaces.

Where is metacarpal 2?

index finger
The Second Metacarpal Bone (os metacarpale II; metacarpal bone of the index finger) is the longest, and its base the largest, of the four remaining bones. Its base is prolonged upward and medialward, forming a prominent ridge. It presents four articular facets: three on the upper surface and one on the ulnar side.

What are the 5 metacarpal bones?

Metacarpals – There are five metacarpals, each one related to a digit. Phalanges (Distal) – The bones of the fingers….They are numbered, and each associated with a digit:

  • Metacarpal I – Thumb.
  • Metacarpal II – Index finger.
  • Metacarpal III – Middle finger.
  • Metacarpal IV – Ring finger.
  • Metacarpal V – Little finger.

How long is a human metacarpal?

Results: The average length of the first metacarpal was 47.6 mm (±3.3 mm, 39.2-56.9 mm). The average radius of curvature was 55.5 mm (±10.7 mm, 33-78.9 mm). Inner bone diameter, measured in two axes, was 10.5 mm (±1.3 mm, 5.4-18.7 mm) for the major axis and 7.7 mm (±0.9 mm, 4.3-17.8 mm) for the minor axis.

Which metacarpal is the longest?

The index metacarpal (Fig. 6) often is the longest metacarpal, with the largest base for articulation with the trapezoid and trapezium. Because this bone articulates with 2 carpal bones, it has more of a Y shape than an oval shape. The fork is larger medially and proximally.

Which is the first metacarpal bone?

The first metacarpal bone or the metacarpal bone of the thumb is the first bone proximal to the thumb. It is connected to the trapezium of the carpus at the first carpometacarpal joint and to the proximal thumb phalanx at the first metacarpophalangeal joint.

Which finger is the first metacarpal?

little finger
The first metacarpal bone is associated with the thumb, the 5th metacarpal bone is associated with the little finger. The joints between the carpals and the metacarpals are known as carpometacarpal joints. The joints between the metacarpals and the proximal phalanges are known a metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints.

Is a metacarpal fracture painful?

Like most other fractures, a metacarpal fracture typically produces pain and swelling in the affected hand. Bruising also usually occurs, although it may not be visible immediately and may take several days to develop.

Do metacarpal bones move?

The normal motion of the metacarpals can be seen when one makes a tight fist while watching the ring and small finger side of the back of the hand bend further inward.

Which finger is the 2nd metacarpal?

The second metacarpal bone (metacarpal bone of the index finger) is the longest, and its base the largest, of all the metacarpal bones.

Where is the adductor pollicis located in the thumb?

The adductor pollicis fastens medially at your 3rd metacarpal bone and laterally at the proximal phalanx of your thumb. The opponens pollicis runs from the flexor retinaculum and the trapezium bone to the metacarpal bone of the thumb.

Where are the opponens pollicis located in the hand?

Opponens pollicis is a short intrinsic muscle of the hand. It belongs to a group called thenar muscles, along with adductor pollicis, abductor pollicis and flexor pollicis brevis. Thenar muscles are located on the radial (lateral) aspect of the hand where they form an elevation named the thenar eminence.

Where are the metacarpal bones located in the body?

The metacarpal bones run from the carpus, forming the carpometacarpal joints , to the base of proximal phalanges, forming the metacarpophalangeal joints. The thumb metacarpal is shorter and thicker. Its base has a saddle-shaped facet for the trapezium.

How is the opponens pollicis muscle innervated?

Opponens pollicis muscle is innervated by the recurrent (thenar) branch of median nerve (root value C8 and T1) and occasionally by the deep terminal branch of ulnar nerve. Opponens pollicis muscle is mainly vascularized by the superficial palmar branch that arises from the radial artery.