Body Of The Distal Phalanx, Posterior View

Description

Distal phalanx body occupies the narrow central shaft on the dorsal (posterior) aspect of a terminal finger bone, positioned between the expanded proximal base and the distal tuft (ungual tuberosity). From this posterior view the shaft appears flattened dorsoventrally, with subtle longitudinal contours that guide the eye from the articular region proximally toward the broader, roughened distal end. Medially and laterally, the margins of the shaft blend into the thin cortical rims that frame the terminal segment and define its profile in relation to the fingertip pad on the palmar side. Mallet finger and tuft fractures both hinge on this anatomy. Avulsion of the terminal extensor tendon occurs at the dorsal base of the distal phalanx, while crush injuries commonly split or comminute the distal tuft and can extend proximally into the shaft, a pattern often paired with nail-bed laceration and subungual hematoma. The fixed posterior perspective suits teaching and figure annotation because it aligns with the dorsal surface inspected during hand examination and dorsal surgical exposure, letting you localize dorsal tendon attachment, fracture lines, and callus formation without distraction from palmar soft tissues. Small bone, big consequences. Use this illustration in upper-limb osteology modules, hand surgery and orthopedics chapters (distal interphalangeal joint injuries, nail-unit trauma), and patient-facing diagrams explaining fingertip crush mechanisms, splinting for mallet finger, or expected healing after a distal phalanx fracture. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.