<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Anatomical terms of bone (edit on Wikidata) </Td> </Tr> <P> The phalanges / fəˈlændʒiːz / (singular: phalanx / ˈfælæŋks /) are digital bones in the hands and feet of most vertebrates . In primates, the thumbs and big toes have two phalanges while the other digits have three phalanges . The phalanges are classed as long bones . </P> <P> The phalanges are the bones that make up the fingers of the hand and the toes of the foot . There are 56 phalanges in the human body, with fourteen on each hand and foot . Three phalanges are present on each finger and toe, with the exception of the thumb and large toe, which possess only two . The middle and far phalanges of the fourth and fifth toes are often fused together (symphalangism). The phalanges of the hand are commonly known as the finger bones . The phalanges of the foot differ from the hand in that they are often shorter and more compressed, especially in the proximal phalanges, those closest to the body . </P> <P> A phalanx is named according to whether is are proximal, middle, or distal and its associated finger or toe . The proximal phalanges are those that are closest to the hand or foot . In the hand, the prominent, knobby ends of the phalanges are known as knuckles . The proximal phalanges join with the metacarpals of the hand or metatarsals of the foot at the metacarpophalangeal joint or metatarsophalangeal joint . The intermediate phalanx is not only intermediate in location, but usually also in size . The thumb and large toe do not possess a middle phalanx . The distal phalanges are the bones at the tips of the fingers or toes . The proximal, intermediate, and distal phalanges articulate with one another through interphalangeal articulations . </P>

The number of phalanges in the body is