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CHAPTER 2
The human hand is anatomically complex. In a healthy individual it consists of 27 bones, 27 joints, 34 muscles, over 100 ligaments and tendons, numerous blood vessels, nerves and soft tissue. The bones of the hand and wrist can be divided into 14 phalanges, 5 metacarpals and 8 carpals. To emphasise its complexity, the total number of bones in the hands and wrists combined amounts to 54 bones out of the 206 human bones in the average adult skeleton. Although it is not necessary for an artist to memorise all the names of each component, it is certainly helpful to understand the proportions and relationships between these numerous parts. Having an appreciation of how the hand is constructed and how it moves and operates will enable the artist to draw this part of the human body with much more accuracy and deeper understanding. In other words, to be able to draw a hand, or indeed any part of the human body accurately, one should investigate the underlying muscular and skeletal structures that create its shape and enable the complexity of its movements.
Original graphite and coloured pencil drawing of a hand and foot, displaying parts of external morphology, osteology and muscular structure.
Traditionally, most medical publications present anatomical illustrations of a hand pointing downwards. Such orientation is referred to as an anatomical position. The following figures demonstrate the structure of the hand in multiple views, exemplifying skeletal and muscular structure not only in a traditional pose, but also during its movement, demonstrating flexion in wrist and fingers.
The back of the hand is called the dorsal side.
The front, or palm of the hand, is referred to as the palmar side.
Bones are hard tissues that give your body shape and stability.
Phalanges are the finger bones.
Metacarpals are the middle part of the hand bones.
Carpals are the wrist bones.
Joints are places where bones fit together, allowing movement.
Original graphite drawing displaying osteology of a right hand. Dorsal view.
1. Radius
2. Ulna
3. Metacarpal bones
4. Proximal phalanges
5. Middle phalanges
6. Distal phalanges
7. First metacarpal bone (of the thumb)
8. Proximal phalanx of the thumb
9. Distal phalanx of the thumb
10. Scaphoid
11. Semilunar
12. Pyramidal
13. Pisiform
14. Unciform
15. Trapezium
16. Capitate
17. Trapezoid
18 Fifth metacarpal bone
Original graphite drawing displaying osteology of a right hand. Palmar view.
The structure of the wrist is made up of eight small bones called the carpal bones, or the carpus. These irregularly shaped bones join the hand to the two long forearm bones: the radius and ulna. The carpal bones are small square, oval, and triangular bones. The cluster of carpal bones in the wrist makes it both strong and flexible. It allows us to flex (bend) or extend (stretch) our hands. We can also tilt our hands from side to side, towards our little finger or thumb.
Each finger consists of one hand bone (metacarpal) and three finger bones (phalanges), while each thumb consists of one metacarpal bone and two phalanges. The fingers have three joints each, which can only be bent and stretched in one direction. The thumb is the only digit that can twist, thanks to the saddle-shaped carpometacarpal joint.
The thumb, also called the pollex, is a short, thick first digit of the human hand and of the lower-primate hand and foot. It differs from other digits in having only two phalanges (tubular bones of the fingers and toes). As the thumb's anatomy and function differ slightly from the other fingers, some people may not consider it a finger. However, as one of the five terminal members of the hand, most medical guides refer to the thumb as a finger. The thumb's primary function is to either work with or against the other fingers to manipulate objects and perform actions such as pinching or grasping. With the rest of the hand's digits, the thumb plays a crucial role in performing coordinated hand movements for precise tool use. Its unique position and proportional length allow the thumb to make a firm contact with the other fingers and other objects. The opposable nature of the thumb and the thenar muscles provides the dexterity and strength to perform these actions. In the upcoming chapters we will gradually explore how these actions are observed in figurative drawing.
Original graphite drawing displaying osteology of a right hand. Side view of the thumb with flexing digits.
Original graphite drawing displaying osteology of a right and left hand in sideways views with a view of both thumbs, subsequent digits and individual wrist bones, exemplifying movement in the wrist and individual wrist bones.
Original graphite drawing displaying osteology of a right hand. Dorsal view, exemplifying movement in the wrist, viewed slightly sideways.
The foot is relatively less complex than the hand. Uniquely amongst other primates, humans' feet have evolved to be able to walk and run with an upright posture, losing an opposable first digit but gaining a pronounced arch. The foot's anatomy might roughly resemble that of the hand but is still different enough for them to have separate functions. Out of the 206 bones in our body, 52 bones are found in the feet. The foot also consists of 33 joints, 107 ligaments, 19 muscles and tendons that hold everything together. It is crucial for a figurative artist to understand how the feet function in relation to the whole body, as when we are drawing the human figure standing, the position of the feet will ultimately determine the overall posture of the model. The way the feet are aligned affects the whole posture: its attitude and its overall appearance.
Original graphite drawing displaying osteology of a right foot; plantar view.
Original graphite drawing displaying osteology of a right foot; dorsal view.
The 26 bones of the foot consist of tarsals, metatarsals, phalanges, cuneiforms, navicular and cuboid bones. The heel bone is the largest bone in the foot. The ankle bone is the only bone in the human body with no attachment to muscles. Notice the differences and the similarities in the skeletal structures of the hand and the foot. Observing these nuances will form a solid base for your figurative drawing.
Original graphite drawing displaying osteology of a right foot; front and back view.
Original graphite drawing displaying osteology of a right foot; side view.
1. Tibia
2. Fibula
3. Metatarsal bone
4. Phalanges
6. Cuboid
7. First cuneiform - medial
8. First metatarsal
9. Proximal phalanx of the big toe
10. Distal phalanx of the big toe
11. Fifth metatarsal
12. Second cuneiform - intermediate
13. Third cuneiform -lateral
14. Scaphoid - navicular
15. Heel
16. Astragalus
The muscles that operate the hand may be viewed in two groups:
1. The extrinsic muscles, located in the anterior and posterior units of the forearm. These oversee crude movements and facilitate a forceful grip.
2. The intrinsic muscles, located within the hand itself. These enable the subtle mechanical actions of the hand.
The following images illustrate the intrinsic muscles of the hand, together with their anatomical placements and attachments.
Original graphite and coloured pencil drawing displaying muscular structure of a right hand; side view.
Original graphite and coloured pencil drawing displaying muscular structure of a right hand; dorsal view.
Original graphite and coloured pencil drawings displaying muscular structure of a right hand; palmar view.
1. Dorsal interossei muscles
2. Opponens pollicis muscle
3. Opponens digiti minimi muscles
4. Palmar interossei muscles
5. Abductor pollicis brevis muscle
6. Flexor pollicis brevis muscle
7. Adductor pollicis muscle
8. Flexor digiti minimi brevis muscle
9. Abductor digiti minimi muscle
10. Lubrical muscles
Original graphite and coloured pencil drawings displaying muscular structure of a right forearm; anterior...
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