Interfalangiene

Interfalangiene is a term encountered in speculative or educational discussions of hand anatomy, used to denote a hypothetical connective tissue layer between adjacent phalanges of a digit. The word derives from the Latin elements inter- (between) and falanga (phalanx or finger) with a suffix typical of tissue names.

In standard anatomical references, the spaces between phalanges are occupied by the interphalangeal joints (proximal and distal) and their associated structures, such as the joint capsule, volar plate, collateral ligaments, and the tendon and fibrous sheaths of the digits. The interfalangiene, as a discrete anatomical layer, is not part of conventional nomenclature or atlases. Some discussions describe it as a potential transverse or planar tissue that could lie adjacent to the joint capsule or between phalangeal elements, but there is no consensus on its existence or precise boundaries.

Functionally, a proposed interfalangiene would, if present, be imagined to contribute to joint stability, load distribution across the phalanges, and possibly housing microvasculature or mechanoreceptors. However, no robust anatomical or clinical evidence supports a distinct, identifiable role for such a tissue in humans, and it remains a hypothetical construct.

Clinical relevance is limited by its lack of acceptance in standard anatomy. When encountered in imaging or during dissection, the term often reflects a misidentification or a misinterpretation of known structures such as the volar plate, fibrous digital sheath, or adjacent connective tissue.

See also: Interphalangeal joints, volar plate, collateral ligaments, fibrous digital sheath.