extremities

Extremities are the outermost parts of the body, defined as the limbs and their distal components. In humans, the term most often denotes the upper and lower limbs—the arms and hands, and the legs and feet—including the shoulders, hips, elbows, knees, wrists, ankles, fingers, and toes. The extremities interact with the environment and provide manipulation, locomotion, and sensory input.

Anatomically, the upper limb includes the shoulder girdle, arm, forearm, and hand, while the lower limb comprises the thigh, leg, and foot. These structures rely on a network of bones, joints, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels to enable movement, sensation, circulation, and fine motor control of the digits.

Extremities are prone to injury and disease. Common issues include fractures, dislocations, sprains, crush injuries, and soft-tissue infections. Vascular or nerve disorders, such as peripheral artery disease or neuropathy, can affect perfusion and sensation. Evaluation typically involves assessing color, warmth, swelling, skin integrity, capillary refill, pulse presence, and motor and sensory function; imaging and specialty consultations are used as indicated.

Beyond medicine, extremities can refer to the farthest ends of any object or region, or to the most distant points in a landscape or sequence. The term thus encompasses both anatomical and metaphorical uses.