Fifth metacarpal bone

<h2 id="surfaces">Surfaces</h2>
<p>It presents on its base one facet on its superior surface, which is concavo-convex and articulates with the <a href="/facts/Hamate/T0zkD0Kn">hamate</a>, and one on its radial side, which articulates with the <a href="/facts/Fourth_metacarpal/Jrg9vcLW">fourth metacarpal</a>.
</p><p>On its ulnar side is a prominent tubercle for the insertion of the tendon of the <a href="/facts/Extensor_carpi_ulnaris_muscle/L6vIUxqU">extensor carpi ulnaris muscle</a>.
</p><p>The dorsal surface of the body is divided by an oblique ridge, which extends from near the ulnar side of the base to the radial side of the head. The lateral part of this surface serves for the attachment of the fourth <a href="/facts/Dorsal_interossei_of_the_hand/Hkt4JhEt">interosseus dorsalis</a>; the medial part is smooth, triangular, and covered by the extensor <a href="/facts/Tendon/M0Kdf7Fy">tendons</a> of the <a href="/facts/Little_finger/094Gy4Ra">little finger</a>.
</p><p>The palmar surface is similarly divided: Its lateral side (facing the fourth metacarpal) provides the origin for the third <a href="/facts/Palmar_interossei_muscles/gp9BBCJy">palmar interosseus</a>, its medial side contains the insertion of <a href="/facts/Opponens_digiti_minimi_muscle_of_hand/JHmYButQ">opponens digiti quinti</a>.
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<h2 id="clinical-significance">Clinical significance</h2>
<p>A <a href="/facts/Bone_fracture/faEv3Ve5">fracture</a> of the <a href="/facts/Fourth_metacarpal_bone/Jrg9vcLW">fourth</a> and/or fifth metacarpal bones transverse neck secondary due to axial loading is known as a <a href="/facts/Boxer%2527s_fracture/BrEAgG6c">boxer's fracture</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> The fifth metacarpal bone is the most common bone to be injured when throwing a punch.
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<h2 id="ossification">Ossification</h2>
<p>The ossification process begins in the shaft during prenatal life, and in the head between 11th and 37th months.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a>
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<h2 id="additional-images">Additional images</h2>

<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Metacarpus/j5U6ThfC">Metacarpus</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/First_metacarpal_bone/cUPMywuP">First metacarpal bone</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Second_metacarpal_bone/qPjqdG77">Second metacarpal bone</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Third_metacarpal_bone/T3JXoRng">Third metacarpal bone</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Fourth_metacarpal_bone/Jrg9vcLW">Fourth metacarpal bone</a></li></ul>

<p> <i>This article incorporates text in the <a href="/facts/Public_domain/YWKMDKw4">public domain</a> from <a href="https://archive.org/stream/anatomyofhumanbo1918gray#page/228/mode/2up">page 228</a> of the 20th edition of</i> <a href="/facts/Gray%2527s_Anatomy/dLMyjr2p">Gray's Anatomy</a> <i>(1918)</i>
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<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Shultz, S. J., Houglum, P. A., Perrin, D. H. (2010). Examination of Musculoskeletal Injuries. Chicago: Human Kinetics <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>Balachandran, Ajay; Anooj Krishna; Moumitha Kartha; Libu G. K.; Liza John; Krishnan B (30 December 2013). "A Study of Ossification of heads of 2nd to 5th Metacarpals in Forensic Age Estimation in the Kerala Population" (PDF). Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences. 2 (52): 10165–10171. doi:10.14260/jemds/1751. Retrieved 26 December 2013. <a href="http://www.jemds.com/data_pdf/dr%20ajay%20balachandran.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.jemds.com/data_pdf/dr%20ajay%20balachandran.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Fifth metacarpal bone open-in-new

Fifth metacarpal bone