What term describes the bones of the fingers and toes?

The term that describes the bones of the fingers and toes is "phalange." This term specifically refers to the digital bones, which are the small bones that make up the fingers (in the hands) and the toes (in the feet). Each finger and toe consists of multiple phalanges: in the fingers, there are three phalanges per digit, while the thumbs and big toes have two.

The tarsals refer to the bones of the ankle and the rear part of the foot, making them unrelated to the fingers and toes. Metatarsals are the long bones in the middle part of the foot that connect the tarsals to the phalanges, thereby serving a different function in foot structure. Carpals, on the other hand, are the bones that make up the wrist, which also is separate from the bones of the fingers and toes. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for grasping basic anatomy related to the hands and feet, especially in a nail technician context where working with fingers and toes is common.