The small bones that make up the fingers and toes, with three phalanges in each digit except the thumbs and big toes, which have two. They are classified as proximal, middle, and distal phalanges based on their position.
From Greek 'phalanx' meaning a line of soldiers standing close together, referring to how these bones are arranged in rows like military formations. The anatomical use dates to ancient Greek medicine.
Your fingertips are incredibly sensitive because the distal phalanges are packed with nerve endings and have a rich blood supply - that's why paper cuts on fingertips hurt so much! The phalanges also contain some of the smallest muscles in your body, giving you the fine motor control to thread a needle or play piano.
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