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phalanx

phalanx

1 8.6
A bone in a finger or toe
  • noun
  • /ˈfeɪlæŋks/
  • Specialized
translation icon : falange
  • A 17-year-old woman presented to another hospital with a type II fracture of the middle phalanx of the index finger (Figure 5A).
  • proximal phalanx
  • middle phalanx
  • phalanx fracture

Examples

  • More often, however, the polydactyly is more complex and involves the distal or proximal phalanx of the toe.

    Academic text (2005)
  • A four-year-old girl presented to the hospital with a type III fracture of the middle phalanx of the little finger (Figure 1A).

    Academic text (2012)
  • The fifth metacarpal and phalanx are the most frequently injured hand bones (see Figure 17).

    Academic text (2006)
  • A 19-year-old man presented to another hospital with a type II fracture of the proximal phalanx of the thumb.

    Academic text (2012)
  • An x-ray at four weeks (Figure 1C) showed evidence of healing and periosteal reaction in the middle phalanx.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Therefore, the midpoint distance represents one-half of the dorsal to palmar articular surface of the middle phalanx base.

    Academic text (2015)
  • A 10-year-old boy presented to another hospital with a type II fracture of the proximal phalanx of the index finger (Figure 2A).

    Academic text (2012)
  • The surgeon repaired the fracture in the proximal phalanx of the little finger.

  • During the examination, the doctor noted the alignment of the phalanx joints in her hand.

  • After the injury, he experienced pain in the distal phalanx of his index finger.

Synonyms

phalange
vsphalanx
  • Specialized
8 8.2

A small bone in a finger or toe

applies to those bones in human hands and feet specifically

Surface Forms

phalanx singular
phalanges plural

Etymology

Phalanx comes from an old Greek word meaning 'finger', so each small bone in a finger or toe is called a phalanx, and the group of these bones is often called 'phalanges'.