Is the Thumb a Finger?

By jamie

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5. How Do Fingers and Thumbs Differ?

Both fingers and thumbs are digits and have a lot of similarities. For example, the way that they bend to help us grasp things makes the two very much alike. There are some notable differences between them, however. The most obvious are size and shape, with the thumbs shorter and thicker, but there are even more profound differences.

Each of our fingers has two joints, and this makes it easier for us to wrap them around objects. The thumb, however, only has one joint. It has evolved to work in conjunction with our fingers so only one joint is needed. The thumb is also located much lower much on the hand, and this might help to give us more grip.

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