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Short bones

Short bones in the human body are often cube-like, their length, width, and height are all about the same.

Short bones include the carpal bones of the hands that allow movement of the wrist, and the tarsal bones of the feet that allow movement of the foot.

Images

References

Standring S. Ankle and foot. In: Standring S, ed. Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 42nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 79.

Standring S. Wrist and hand. In: Standring S, ed. Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 42nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 51.

Review Date 8/12/2023

Updated by: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.