Metacarpus is the region of the hand skeleton located between the phalanges (bones of the fingers) distally and the carpus. It consists of five metacarpal bones.Its foot equivalent is the metatarsus.
Together five metacarpals form a transverse arch to which the rigid row of distal carpal bones are fixed. Beginning from lateral side {Thumb articulates with first}, the metacarpals are numbered from 1 to 5.
A metacarpal has three parts
- The body is prismoid in form, and curved, so as to be convex in the longitudinal direction behind, concave in front.
- The base or carpal extremity articulates with the carpusand with the adjoining metacarpal bones
- The head or digital extremity articulates with the proximal phalanx.
Metacarpals and Phalanges
Each metacarpal articulates with the proximal phalanx of corresponding digit. On carpal side the articulations are as follows
- The first metacarpal articulates with the trapezium
- The second metacarpal articulates with the trapezium, trapezoid, capitate and third metacarpal
- Third metacarpal articulates with the capitate and second and fourth metacarpals
- Fourth metacarpal articulates with the capitate, hamate, and third and fifth metacarpals
- Fifth metacarpal articulates with the hamate and fourth metacarpal.
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[...] toe): the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth metatarsal. The metatarsals are analogous to the metacarpal bones of the [...]