Head Of The Distal Phalanx, Posterior View

Description

Distal phalanx anatomy is centered on the expanded head (tuft) at the fingertip, shown from a posterior (dorsal) viewpoint where the terminal bony plate appears flattened mediolaterally and slightly widened compared with the shaft. Proximal to the tuft, the dorsal surface narrows toward the neck and shaft, while the palmar aspect (not fully visible from this perspective) would curve toward the apical pulp. Along the margins of the tuft, the cortical outline thickens and flares laterally, framing the region that supports the nail bed and distal fingertip pad. Tuft morphology matters because this is the bone most often injured in crush mechanisms, with comminuted distal phalanx fractures commonly paired with nail-bed lacerations or subungual hematoma. Posterior viewing emphasizes the dorsal contour and the breadth of the terminal expansion, which helps explain why distal tip fractures can be radiographically subtle in a single projection and why small dorsal fragments may accompany soft-tissue disruption. In hand osteoarthritis, remodeling at the distal phalanx and adjacent distal interphalangeal joint can be discussed alongside Heberden node formation, and this distal bony profile gives a useful reference for what “normal” looks like before degenerative change. Hand anatomy labs and skeletal identification practicals use this illustration to teach side and orientation of isolated phalanges, distinguishing the distal phalanx by its tuft and tapering shaft. It also fits orthopedic and emergency medicine teaching files on fingertip trauma, splinting decisions, and the relationship between bony injury and nail apparatus repair. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.