If fingers have no muscles, then how can they move?

If you look at people's arms you've probably seen their muscles. Well, what about fingers? Have you ever seen people's fingers have muscles? Could it be that your fingers don't have muscles? Then how can fingers work lifting all kinds of things if they don't have muscles? Check out the reviews here.

Is it true that fingers don't have muscles?

Muscles are the active means of movement for humans. Without muscles, humans cannot move the bones of the hands, feet and other parts freely. However, what about fingers? It is true, fingers have no muscles even though they can move.

Even though there are no muscles, the fingers can still work well. It's all because although there are no muscles in the fingers, there are 34 muscles in the palms and in the forearms (from around the elbows to the wrists) that make the fingers work properly.

The muscles are there that make the fingers do various things. For example opening doors, clapping hands, pointing with fingers, shaking hands, holding bags, playing cellphones, and others.

Fingers and palms have very complex structures. Each hand has 27 bones and a number of joints. The total number of bones in the hand makes up nearly a quarter of the total number of bones in the human body.

How do the fingers move?

How can humans type, play the piano, and do various things with their fingers? All centered on the brain. The muscles in the palms and forearms work only when the brain tells them to do so. There are so many important things that must be done by hand. In fact, about a quarter of the brain has a task to control the movement of the muscles in the hand to move the fingers.

The brain that sends messages to nerves connected to the muscles of the palms and forearms. These messages tell certain muscles to tighten and others to relax. So that the desired movement will occur.

The muscles in the palms and forearms are connected with tendons. These tendons are what connect each muscle to a specific bone in your finger. Tendons are strong connective tissues that bind muscles and bones. This tendon is what eventually moves the finger as you command it.

When a muscle contracts, it pulls on the tendon, which then pulls on the bone and moves it. So, in simple terms the brain commands the nerves of the palms to move the tendons and bones of the fingers.

What nerves are connected to the hand so that it can move the fingers?

There are two main nerves (in the image below in yellow) for moving the fingers, namely the median nerve and the ulnar nerve. The median nerve which leads to the thumb, index finger, middle finger and part of the ring finger. While the ulnar nerve is the part of the nerve that carries messages from the brain to move the little finger and half ring finger. Below is a picture of the part of the finger and the nerves responsible for delivering the message.

Source: muscleandjoint.ca

For example, to move the little finger, the brain will send a message to the ulnar nerve, then the ulnar nerve will make the muscles in the palm of the hand contract so that it moves the tendons of the little finger. Until finally the little finger will move.

Each finger has a movable joint as well

Each finger also has the ability to be moved even though it doesn't move widely in all directions. Each finger has 3 bones, except the thumb which has only 2 bones.

Between the bones are joints. This joint is what makes the fingers move too. The joints between the finger bones can only be moved in one way, namely flexion and extension or bending and straightening. This means that the finger can only bend and then straighten again.

If you move your finger, you can only bend it one way and return it straight again, right? Now that is what is meant by bending and straightening.

Especially for the thumb, apart from doing flexion and extension, the joints can also be moved more freely than the other fingers.

Try to feel the muscles as your fingers move

Straighten your hands out in front of you with your palms facing down and your fingers stretched out limply. Then, keep your hands in a straight forward position while clenching your fists. Do you feel any muscle movement such as a pull in the forearm tense? Well, this is a sign that the finger is moved by the muscles outside the finger.