The hand is complex structure made up of 27 bones. There are eight carpal bones which make up the wrist.
Each of the five digits, or rays, has a metacarpal bone at its base. The digits are numbered from one to five starting on the lateral side with the thumb. Finally, each of the five digits have three phalanges (proximal, intermediate and distal) except for the thumb. The thumb (or pollux) lacks an intermediate phalanx.