Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 3, 2026

Estimation of Contact Regions Between Hands and Objects During Human Multi-Digit Grasping
Published on: April 21, 2023
Ossa Sesamoidea - prevalence of sesamoid bones in human hands
Krzysztof Dąbrowski1, Hanna Stankiewicz-Jóźwicka2, Arkadiusz Kowalczyk3
1Department of Descriptive and Clinical Anatomy, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. k.p.dabr@gmail.com.
Background:
This study describes the morphology of sesamoid bones in the human hand. Ultrasound imaging was used to record the presence and measurements of sesamoids in 120 hands of 60 healthy, young adults of Caucasian ethnicity.
Materials And Methods:
The mean number of sesamoid bones was 4.16 in the left hand and 4.03 in the right hand. 21.6% of cases showed asymmetry between the right hand and the left. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of sesamoid bones between right and left hand in males in this study. Females show a higher incidence of sesamoid bones overall, but do not demonstrate a significant difference between the sides.
Results:
Prevalence findings: Two in the 1st Metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPJ) in 99.2% of cases, with one case of a single bone. One in the 2nd MCPJ in 43.3% of cases. One in the 5th MCPJ in 84.2% of cases. One in the 1st Interphalangeal joint (IPJ) in 83.4%of cases. Aside from that there was one case of sesamoid in the 3rd MCPJ and separate case of sesamoid in the 3rd proximal IPJ.
Conclusions:
Moreover, this study discusses discrepancies of opinion regarding sesamoid bones in morphological research.
Related Concept Videos
Bones of the Upper Limb: Radius
The radius has a nail-shaped head, and a...
Bones of the Lower Limb: Femur and Patella
Bones of the Upper Limb: Humerus
Bones of the Upper Limb: Ulna
Classification of Bones
Long and Short Bones
The appendicular skeleton, particularly the upper and lower limbs, is primarily made of long and short bones. The...
Bones of the Lower Limb: Tibia and Fibula
