Fourth metacarpal bone

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Fourth metacarpal bone
Fourth metacarpal bone (left hand) 01 palmar view.png
Fourth metacarpal of the left hand (shown in red). Palmar view.
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The fourth metacarpal. (Left.)
Details
Identifiers
Latin os metacarpale IV
FMA 23902
Anatomical terms of bone

The fourth metacarpal bone (metacarpal bone of the ring finger) is shorter and smaller than the third.

Contents

The base is small and quadrilateral; its superior surface presents two facets, a large one medially for articulation with the hamate, and a small one laterally for the capitate.

On the radial side are two oval facets, for articulation with the third metacarpal; and on the ulnar side a single concave facet, for the fifth metacarpal.

Clinical relevance

A shortened fourth metacarpal bone can be a symptom of Kallmann syndrome, a genetic condition which results in the failure to commence or the non-completion of puberty. A short fourth metacarpal bone can also be found in Turner syndrome, a disorder involving sex chromosomes.

A fracture of the fourth and/or fifth metacarpal bones transverse neck secondary due to axial loading is known as a boxer's fracture. [1]

Ossification

The ossification process begins in the shaft during prenatal life, and in the head between 11th and 37th months. [2]

Additional images

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trapezium (bone)</span> Bone of the wrist

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metatarsal bones</span> Five long bones in the foot

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capitate bone</span> Carpal bone in the wrist

The capitate bone is a bone in the human wrist found in the center of the carpal bone region, located at the distal end of the radius and ulna bones. It articulates with the third metacarpal bone and forms the third carpometacarpal joint. The capitate bone is the largest of the carpal bones in the human hand. It presents, above, a rounded portion or head, which is received into the concavity formed by the scaphoid and lunate bones; a constricted portion or neck; and below this, the body. The bone is also found in many other mammals, and is homologous with the "third distal carpal" of reptiles and amphibians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamate bone</span> Carpal bone in the wrist

The hamate bone, or unciform bone, Latin os hamatum and occasionally abbreviated as just hamatum, is a bone in the human wrist readily distinguishable by its wedge shape and a hook-like process ("hamulus") projecting from its palmar surface.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radius (bone)</span> One of the two long bones of the forearm

The radius or radial bone is one of the two large bones of the forearm, the other being the ulna. It extends from the lateral side of the elbow to the thumb side of the wrist and runs parallel to the ulna. The ulna is longer than the radius, but the radius is thicker. The radius is a long bone, prism-shaped and slightly curved longitudinally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triquetral bone</span> Bone in the wrist

The triquetral bone is located in the wrist on the medial side of the proximal row of the carpus between the lunate and pisiform bones. It is on the ulnar side of the hand, but does not directly articulate with the ulna. Instead, it is connected to and articulates with the ulna through the Triangular fibrocartilage disc and ligament, which forms part of the ulnocarpal joint capsule. It connects with the pisiform, hamate, and lunate bones. It is the 2nd most commonly fractured carpal bone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fifth metacarpal bone</span>

The fifth metacarpal bone is the most medial and second-shortest of the metacarpal bones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Third metacarpal bone</span>

The third metacarpal bone is a little smaller than the second.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second metacarpal bone</span> Bone of the index finger

The second metacarpal bone is the longest, and its base the largest, of all the metacarpal bones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First metacarpal bone</span>

The first metacarpal bone or the metacarpal bone of the thumb is the first bone proximal to the thumb. It is connected to the trapezium of the carpus at the first carpometacarpal joint and to the proximal thumb phalanx at the first metacarpophalangeal joint.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fifth metatarsal bone</span>

The fifth metatarsal bone is a long bone in the foot, and is palpable along the distal outer edges of the feet. It is the second smallest of the five metatarsal bones. The fifth metatarsal is analogous to the fifth metacarpal bone in the hand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fourth metatarsal bone</span>

The fourth metatarsal bone is a long bone in the foot. It is smaller in size than the third metatarsal bone and is the third longest of the five metatarsal bones. The fourth metatarsal is analogous to the fourth metacarpal bone in the hand

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Third metatarsal bone</span>

The third metatarsal bone is a long bone in the foot. It is the second longest metatarsal. The longest being the second metatarsal. The third metatarsal is analogous to the third metacarpal bone in the hand

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hand</span> Extremity at the end of an arm or forelimb

A hand is a prehensile, multi-fingered appendage located at the end of the forearm or forelimb of primates such as humans, chimpanzees, monkeys, and lemurs. A few other vertebrates such as the koala are often described as having "hands" instead of paws on their front limbs. The raccoon is usually described as having "hands" though opposable thumbs are lacking.

References

PD-icon.svgThis article incorporates text in the public domain from page 228 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. Shultz, S. J., Houglum, P. A., Perrin, D. H. (2010). Examination of Musculoskeletal Injuries. Chicago: Human Kinetics
  2. Balachandran, Ajay; Anooj Krishna; Moumitha Kartha; Libu G. K.; Liza John; Krishnan B (30 December 2013). "A Study of Ossification of heads of 2nd to 5th Metacarpals in Forensic Age Estimation in the Kerala Population" (PDF). Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences. 2 (52): 10165–10171. doi: 10.14260/jemds/1751 . Retrieved 26 December 2013.