Alberta Written Barber Practice Exam

The fourteen bones that form the digits or fingers of the hands are called?

1. Carpals

2. Metacarpals

3. Phalanges

4. Radius and ulna

The correct answer is: Phalanges

The correct term for the fourteen bones that make up the digits or fingers of the hands is "phalanges." Each finger is composed of three phalanges: proximal, middle, and distal, while the thumb has two phalanges: proximal and distal. This accounts for a total of fourteen phalanges for both hands. Understanding the structure of the hand is crucial in fields like anatomy and various practices, including barbering, where hand dexterity is important. In contrast, carpals refer to the eight small bones that make up the wrist, while metacarpals are the five bones that form the middle part of the hand. The radius and ulna are the two long bones in the forearm that connect the hand to the elbow. Their functions and definitions are distinct and separate from the phalanges.