Our hands are an essential part of our daily lives and are involved in almost all our activities, from typing on a keyboard to cooking food. However, we often take our hands for granted and do not pay attention to their care and maintenance. In this blog post, we will discuss the anatomy of the hands and why they need special care.
The Hands Anatomy
The hands are made up of bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels. There are 27 bones in each hand, including eight carpal bones, five metacarpal bones, and 14 phalanges. The carpal bones are located in the wrist, the metacarpal bones are in the palm, and the phalanges are in the fingers.
The muscles in the hands are responsible for moving the fingers and thumb. There are two groups of muscles in the hands: the intrinsic muscles and the extrinsic muscles. The intrinsic muscles are located within the hand, while the extrinsic muscles are located in the forearm and extend into the hand.
The tendons in the hands connect the muscles to the bones and are responsible for moving the fingers and thumb. The ligaments in the hands connect the bones to each other and provide stability to the joints.
The nerves in the hands are responsible for providing sensation and movement to the fingers and thumb. The main nerve in the hand is the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand and provides sensation to the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and half of the ring finger.
The blood vessels in the hands supply oxygen and nutrients to the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves.
Why Hands Need Special Care?
Our hands are exposed to many environmental factors that can cause damage to the skin, nails, and cuticles. These factors include exposure to sun, wind, water, and chemicals. In addition, repetitive activities such as typing, texting, and playing musical instruments can cause strain and overuse injuries.
To maintain healthy hands, it is essential to take special care of them. This includes:
1. Moisturising
Regularly moisturising the hands can help prevent dry skin, cracking, and itching.
2. Protecting
Wearing gloves when working with chemicals or harsh cleaners can help protect the hands.
3. Stretching
Doing hand exercises and stretches can help prevent strain and overuse injuries.
4. Maintaining hygiene
Washing the hands regularly and keeping the nails clean can help prevent the spread of germs.
Our hands are an essential part of our daily lives and need special care and maintenance. By understanding the anatomy of the hands and taking steps to protect and care for them, we can prevent injuries and maintain healthy hands.
References