How to Know the Proximal, Middle and Distal on the Body

A human hand has a total of 14 phalanges, which are a type of small bone, in its fingers. Thumbs each have two phalanges, while each of the other fingers have three phalanges inside. Proximal, middle and distal are the three types of phalanges. Each type of these bones can be identified by just looking at the fingers.

Instructions

• 1

  Hold your hand out flat and look at your fingers.

• 2

  Bend your fingers and look at the bone at the tip of each finger where your fingernail is located. This portion of each finger holds a distal phalange.

• 3

  Move further down the fingers to area between the distal phalanges and your knuckle. You middle phalange is located in this portion of each finger. On your thumbs, the middle phalange is at the end of each thumb.

• 4

  Locate the bottom portion of your fingers, closest to your hand. In this section of your finger, you can find the proximal phalange. Find the proximal phalanges of your thumbs by looking at the bottom portion of each thumb, just as with the fingers.