hands
There are truly a great many things which influence the hands.
There are 9 tendons traveling through the carpal tunnel from muscles in the forearm to allow flexion and extension of the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints. There are short intrinsic muscles between the metacarpals which allow for abduction and aduction of the metacarpals. There are 4 lumbricals which allow for flexion at the metacarpal phalangeal joint, as well as some hyperextension when the hand is in an already extended position. And then specialty muscles for the thumb and pinky finger that allow for flexion, extension, and opposition. Both the ulnar and median nerves travel into the hand, as well as some superficial branches of the radial nerve. Ulnar and radial arteries travel in as well and create arches that put off smaller arteries into the fingers.
We have all those little carpal bones, eight of them. Scaphoid, being the one to connect with the ulna. Scaphoid is also the most commonly broken. Capitate, being the largest, and also so prominent by it’s central positioning. Hammate and pisiform on the ulnar side of the hand working with trapezium to create the carpal tunnel and allow passage for all those tendons along with the median nerve.
Yup, there’s a lot happening in there. It all seems like quite an arrangement.
Be good to your hands. They are complicated pieces of equipment.