Why is your thumb called a thumb and not a finger?
Question:
Answers:
It's one of those "which one of these is not like the others".
The thumb contrasts with each of the (other) four by being the only finger that:
* Is opposable
* Has two phalanges rather than three
* Has its inmost phalanx so close to the wrist
* Has much greater breadth and stubby proportions
* Is attached to such a mobile metacarpus (which produces most of the opposability)
The thumb, unlike other fingers, is opposable, in that it is the only digit on the human hand which is able to oppose or turn back against the other four fingers, and thus enables the hand to refine its grip to hold objects which it would be unable to do otherwise. The opposable thumb has helped the human species develop more accurate fine motor skills.
well it is really called the first digit
It is my question too, but why should I worry about the nomenclature of the THUMB, as there are mega-ideas that seek real answers.
I t is not that unusual to replace a severally injured thumb with one of the other fingers on that hand. I would call it a thumb then and not a pinky. You might guess I worked in a machine shop.
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