Hands

Your hands are one of the most useful parts of your body. You use them to pick things up, write, and play. Each hand has a thumb and four fingers. Hands can do many jobs, from tying shoes to making art.

Parts of the Hand

Each hand has 27 bones in it. Your thumb is special because it can touch all your other fingers. Muscles and tendons in your hand let your fingers bend. The skin on your palm is thicker than skin on the back of your hand.

What Hands Can Do

Hands help you feel things like soft, hard, hot, and cold. They can grip tightly or hold things gently. People also use hands to wave, clap, and give hugs. Sign language uses hands to talk without words.

Fun Facts

• Your hands have about a quarter of all the bones in your body.
• Fingernails grow faster on your writing hand.
• Every person has a different fingerprint, even twins.

Did You Know?

The thumb is called an opposable thumb because it can move against the other fingers. This helps humans grab things better than most animals.