index finger

Index finger
Human hand with index finger extended
Artery	radial artery of index finger

Fingers
Thumb · Index · Middle · Ring · Little

The index finger, (also referred to as, forefinger, trigger finger, pointer finger, digitus secundus, or digitus II), is the second finger of a human hand.

It is located between the first and third digits - that is, between the thumb and the middle finger. It is usually the most dextrous and sensitive finger of the hand, though not the longest. A lone index finger often is used to represent the number 1, or when held up or moved side to side (finger-wagging), it can be an admonitory gesture. With the hand held palm out and the thumb and middle fingers touching, it represents the letter d in the American Sign Language alphabet. In sports, it can also represent victory, as some championship-winning teams raise their index finger (often saying "We're number one!") while posing for a championship team photo.

Men are 2.5 times more likely than women to have an index finger which is shorter than their ring finger, and such ratios correlate with an increased likelihood of osteoarthritis, especially for women.^[1]

Gestures

A man pointing at a woman during a political argument.

As mentioned above, the forefinger can be used for pointing. However, pointing directly with the index finger at a person is considered rude in Western culture. A more polite way of pointing to a person would be to direct the hand in their direction, as if holding a plate.

During the Bosnian war, Serbo-Bosnian troops raised three fingers in a sign of victory (which represents the Father, Son and Holy Spirit - the way that orthodox Christians cross themselves), Bosnian Croats raised the two-finger V-sign and Muslims (Bosniaks) raised one (after the strict monotheism of Islam).

See also

• Extensor indicis proprius
• Index (typography)
• Digit ratio

Additional images

Sistine Chapel, Detail, Michelangelo	Isenheim Altarpiece, Detail: Hl. John the Baptist	John the Baptist, Leonardo da Vinci	The School of Athens, Detail, Raphael
Lateral X-ray of left finger, showing proximal interphalangeal joint dislocation and fracture of the base of the middle phalanx

References

External links

• index+finger at eMedicine Dictionary

Look up forefinger in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

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