Metacarpus facts for kids

Bone: Metacarpals
The five metacarpal bones, numbered.
Multiple fractures of the metacarpals (aka broken hand).

The metacarpus is the intermediate part of the hand skeleton. It is between the phalanges (bones of the fingers) distally and the carpus which forms the connection to the forearm. The metacarpus consists of metacarpal bones.

Images for kids

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  Left hand shown with thumb on left.

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  The principle of homology illustrated by the adaptive radiation of the metacarpal bones of mammals. All conform to the basic pentadactyl pattern but are modified for different usages. The third metacarpal is shaded throughout; the shoulder is crossed-hatched.

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  Carpometacarpal joints of the left hand. Thumb on left.

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  Carpometacarpal joints of the left hand. Thumb on left.

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  X-ray

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  Metacarpus (yellow). Insertions are shown in red. Left hand, anterior (palmar) view.

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  Metacarpus (yellow). Insertions are shown in red. Left hand, posterior (dorsal) view.

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  Metacarpus of the left hand (shown in red). Animation.

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  X-ray image of right hand with thumb on left.

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  Multiple fractures of the metacarpals (aka broken hand). (Right hand shown with thumb on left.)

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  X-ray image of human infant left hand.

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  Micro-radiography of 8 weeks human embryo hand

See also

In Spanish: Metacarpo para niños