Phalanx bone Phalanx bone The phalanges (singular: "phalanx" ) 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. 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
Ostromia addition, the ungual (claw) of the first digit of the hand is smaller than the corresponding first metacarpal, while in "Archaeopteryx" the claw is larger. The Haarlem specimen's metatarsals are also estimated to be proportionally longer than those of "Archaeopteryx" specimens. In addition, the Haarlem specimen shares several features with "Anchiornis". Most notably, they both have longitudinal furrows on the top and bottom sides of their manual phalanges (finger bones). While such structures can be a result of collapsed or broken bones (as is the case in several "Archaeopteryx" specimens), the straight, smooth edges of the furrows in "Ostromia" and