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The thumb on the human hand has only two phalanges, or joints, whereas human fingers each have 3 phalanges. This give the thumb greater movement and enables it to do things the fingers can't do. Collectively the fingers and thumbs are known as digits. The thumb is said to be opposable to the fingers.
By definition, the thumb is both a finger and not a finger. "Finger" can mean any of the four digits besides the thumb OR any digit including the thumb. It is up to the person to decide whether or not the thumb is considered a finger.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoThe thumb is called a thumb instead of a finger because it is smaller than a finger. A thumb also has 2 joints and a finger has 3.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoit is. people just want to make you seem dumb.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoThe thumb has a wider range of movement than your fingers.
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What is the First digit of hand called as?
THUMB
What has been the single most important factor of human life?
The opposable thumb. Without that feature, people could not pick things up. They could not hold tools well, nor could they throw rocks to protect themselves. In fact, having opposable thumbs meant that humans could develop the huge intellects and brains that they have.
What types of pivot joints are there in your body?
There are not two types of pivot joints, there are two pivot joints: one between the atlas and the axis of the of the cervical vertebrae, the second is in the elbows between the radius in the ulna.
What is the skin between your thumb and index finger called?
The spot between the index finger and the thumb is called the thumb web space. The information is hard to find but is mentioned in the link below (in the section labeled "Causes"). Note: The link shows a birth abnormality, but "thumb web space" is the term for the normal appearance of thumb and index finger.
Do slugs have opposable thumbs?
No besides us apes are the only ones who have opposable thumbs but ours are better
Does a tiger have opposable thumbs?
No, They Don't have an opposable thumb But a chimpanzee does!
Does a sloth have an opposable thumb?
No.
Siamang opposable thumb and big toe?
Yes the Siamang monkey has opposable thumbs, and opposable big toes.
How far does the monkey's opposable thumb move?
as far as ours can go
Based on your knowledge of human evolution how might opposable toes have been useful to humans ancestors?
Modern humans have opposable thumbs but not opposable toes.An opposable thumb means that you can touch the tips of your other fingers with the tip of your thumb, but not with any of the other fingers. This allows you to hold and manipulate objects with more precision.An opposable big toe is similarly useful for gripping objects with the feet. This would be particularly useful for an animal which climbed trees, as our ancestors did.See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thumb
Which species has the most effective opposable thumb?
Humans (if being considered) do have the the most effective opposable thumbs. Next in line would be our close relative the chimpanzees
Which joint is unique to the hand and how does the joint move the hand?
Having an opposable thumb is unique.
Do mice have opposable thumbs?
No, mice do not have opposable thumbs. They have paws with a pollex, which is the innermost digit of the forelimb.
Does an Australopithecus Afarensis have on opposable thumb?
According to anthropology, Australopithecus Afarensis did have opposable thumbs. This construct, it is thought, gave it the ability to form tools and hunt for food more efficiently.
What are some animals without opposable thumbs?
Species that have opposable thumbs are humans, apes, such as chimpanzees and gibbons, most Old World monkeys such as the vervet monkeys and the mandrill, some New World monkeys such the common woolly monkeys and the northern night monkey,and lower primates such as the slender lorises and spectacle tarsiers. The opposum, koala, and lemur have opposable thumbs, and the Great Panda has a semi opposable thumb. In the non mamml area, one species of frog has an opposable thumb, and one of the bird-like dinosaurs had an opposable thumb.
What is the advantage of opposable thumbs?
The advantage of an opposable thumb is to grab things. It essentially puts us high on the food chain (next to our adaptable brain). It allows us to climb, grab, hold, catch, play thumb wars (among other things). -Brett
What in the world is convergent evolution?
Convergent evolution occurs when unrelated species evolve with similar features. An example of this is opposable thumbs, which primates typically have. Opossums also have an opposable thumb, and they are not from the primate family.
