American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) Practice Exam

What do we call the bones of the fingers and toes?

1. Metatarsals

2. Carpals

3. Phalangeal

4. Tarsals

The correct answer is: Phalangeal

The bones of the fingers and toes are collectively referred to as phalanges. Each finger consists of three phalanges (proximal, middle, and distal) except for the thumb, which has two (proximal and distal). Similarly, the toes also have phalanges, with the big toe typically having two and the other toes having three. Understanding the structure of the hands and feet is crucial in fields such as anatomy and medical coding, as it aids in accurately documenting surgical procedures or injuries related to these areas. The other terms relate to different sets of bones: metatarsals refer to the long bones in the foot that connect to the toes, carpals are the wrist bones, and tarsals are the bones in the ankle. Hence, the term phalangeal is specifically correct for the bones associated with the digits of the hands and feet.