Hånd

Hånd is the Norwegian word for the hand, the end part of the upper limb used for grasping and manipulating objects. In humans, hands enable tool use, tactile perception, and nonverbal communication.

Anatomy: The hand comprises the palm, dorsum, and five digits including the thumb. The skeleton includes eight carpal bones in the wrist, five metacarpal bones in the palm, and fourteen phalanges in the fingers. Joints include carpometacarpal, metacarpophalangeal, and interphalangeal joints. The skin is thick on the palm and fingers in some areas, with nails on the dorsal aspect of the digits.

Innervation and circulation: Motor and sensory functions are provided mainly by the median, ulnar, and radial nerves. Blood is supplied by the radial and ulnar arteries; veins accompany them. The hand has rich tactile innervation, enabling fine discrimination of texture, temperature, and shape.

Function: The hand supports a wide range of grips. The opposable thumb allows precision grip, while other fingers enable power grip. Dexterity arises from coordinated muscle groups both intrinsic (within the hand) and extrinsic (in the forearm).

Development and clinical notes: Humans are born with functional hands that develop motor skills during infancy. Common injuries include fractures of the metacarpals and phalanges, sprains, and carpal tunnel syndrome affecting the median nerve. Arthritis and tendon injuries can affect hand function.

Etymology and terminology: The word hånd derives from Old Norse hǫnd and Proto-Germanic *handuz; it's cognate with English hand, German Hand, and Dutch hand. In Norwegian usage, the term features in many compounds and idioms.

Cultural usage: Phrases such as hånd i hånd (hand in hand) signify closeness or coordination; å gi noen en hånd denotes offering help or assistance.