Fifth metacarpal bone

Fifth metacarpal bone
	Fifth metacarpal of the left hand (shown in red). Palmar view.
	The fifth metacarpal. (Left.)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	os metacarpale V
	Anatomical terms of bone

The fifth metacarpal bone (metacarpal bone of the little finger or pinky finger) is the most medial and second-shortest of the metacarpal bones.

Surfaces

It presents on its base one facet on its superior surface, which is concavo-convex and articulates with the hamate, and one on its radial side, which articulates with the fourth metacarpal.

On its ulnar side is a prominent tubercle for the insertion of the tendon of the extensor carpi ulnaris muscle.

The dorsal surface of the body is divided by an oblique ridge, which extends from near the ulnar side of the base to the radial side of the head. The lateral part of this surface serves for the attachment of the fourth Interosseus dorsalis; the medial part is smooth, triangular, and covered by the extensor tendons of the little finger.

The palmar surface is similarly divided: Its lateral side (facing the fourth metacarpal) provides origin for the third palmar interosseus, its medial side contains the insertion of opponens digiti quinti.

Clinical significance

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] The fifth metacarpal bone is the most common bone to be injured when throwing a punch.

Ossification

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

Additional images

Fifth metacarpal bone of the left hand (shown in red). Animation.
Fifth metacarpal bone of the left hand. Close up.
Palmer view of the left hand (fifth metacarpal shown in yellow).
Dorsal view of the left hand (fifth metacarpal shown in yellow).
Fracture of the fifth metacarpal (boxer's fracture).

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References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 228 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

Shultz, S. J., Houglum, P. A., Perrin, D. H. (2010). Examination of Musculoskeletal Injuries. Chicago: Human Kinetics
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. Retrieved 26 December 2013.

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[ERS-1] Shultz, S. J., Houglum, P. A., Perrin, D. H. (2010). Examination of Musculoskeletal Injuries. Chicago: Human Kinetics

[Ajay-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. Retrieved 26 December 2013.