Tommelsiden

Tommelsiden is a Norwegian term meaning "the thumb side." It is used mainly in anatomy, medicine, and ergonomic contexts to describe the lateral aspect of the hand or forearm that is nearest the thumb. The word is formed from tommel, meaning thumb, and siden, meaning side. In anatomical descriptions, tommelsiden is typically contrasted with the opposite side of the hand, which would be the little finger side.

In practice, tommelsiden is used to specify the location of lesions, pressure points, or nerve distributions relative to the thumb, and it features in clinical notes, rehabilitation guides, and tool-ergonomics discussions where grip orientation matters. The term can also appear in everyday Norwegian when people refer to the position of the thumb during gripping or writing, though more general phrases may be used in casual language.

The concept corresponds to the radial side of the hand in standard anatomical terminology, but in Norwegian usage it is primarily a practical description for describing orientation rather than a strict anatomical label. See also: hand anatomy, anatomical directions, grip.