Interphalangeal Joints of the Hand

Click here for access to the full Anatomy Glossary.

Right click on the image for a downloadable file of this muscle.

Use of this artwork requires proper credit to be given (Permission: Dr. Joe Muscolino. www.learnmuscles.com – photography by David Eliot)

The interphalangeal (IP) joints of the hand are located between the phalanges of the fingers (including the thumb).
- There is one interphalangeal joint in the thumb.
- There are two interphalangeal joints in each of the other fingers (#2-5; index, middle, ring, little): proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints.
The interphalangeal joints are synovial, diarthrotic, uniaxial, hinge joints.
They allow:
- flexion/extension of the fingers in the sagittal plane.

NOTES:

Proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints are located between proximal and middle phalanges.
Distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints are located between middle and distal phalanges.
Because the thumb has only two phalanges, it has only one interphalangeal joint.
Singular of the word phalanges is phalanx. There is no word phalange.

Anterior view of the interphalangeal joints on the right side of the body (as well as other joints of the wrist and hand).

Posterior view of the interphalangeal joints on the right side of the body (as well as other joints of the wrist and hand).

Bones of the wrist and hand in the posture of a fist on the right side.