phalanges

A hand rests on a table, showing the three phalanges of each finger.

Definition

• Noun (plural of ):
  • Anatomy: The bones that make up the digits (fingers and toes) of the hand or foot. Each finger or toe contains three phalanges (except the thumb and big toe, which have two).
  • Historical/military: A formation of infantry in ancient Greece, consisting of a dense block of soldiers with long spears. (Note: The plural phalanxes is more common for this meaning.)

Usage Examples

• Anatomy:
  • The surgeon carefully repaired the fractured phalanges in his index finger. (The bones in the finger.)
  • Each toe has three phalanges, except the big toe which has two. (The bones in the toes.)

Advanced Usage

• "distal/middle/proximal phalanges": Specific terms for the phalanges based on their position.
  • The distal phalanges are the bones at the tips of the fingers. (The furthest bones from the hand.)

Variants and Related Words

• Phalanx (singular noun): one of the bones in a finger or toe, or the ancient military formation.
  • He broke a phalanx in his right hand. (One bone.)
• Phalangeal (adjective): relating to the phalanges.
  • The phalangeal joints allow for fine motor movements. (The joints between the phalanges.)

Synonyms

• Finger bones: a descriptive term for the phalanges of the hand.
• Toe bones: a descriptive term for the phalanges of the foot.

Related Idioms

• (No common idioms directly use "phalanges," but in anatomy contexts, "phalanges" are often grouped with "metacarpals" and "metatarsals" in discussions of hand and foot structure.)