phalanges The bones that make up the digits of the hand or foot in vertebrates. They articulate with the metacarpals of the hand or with the metatarsals of the foot. In the basic pentadactyl limb there are two phalanges for the first digit (the thumb or big toe in humans) and three for each of the others.

phalanges (fă-lan-jeez) n. (sing. phalanx) the bones of the fingers and toes (digits). The first digit (thumb/big toe) has two phalanges. Each of the remaining digits has three phalanges.
—phalangeal adj.