Phalanges or Phalanx refers to which?

• A. Bones of the toes
• B. Bones of the fingers
• C. Phalanges or Phalanx
• D. A tendon in the foot

Answer: (C)

Phalanges or phalanx denotes the bones of the digits—the fingers and the toes. In anatomy, these bones are the structural units of the fingers and toes, with each finger typically having proximal, middle, and distal phalanges (the thumb has two). The option that simply states the term itself is the best because it identifies what the word refers to: the bones of the digits. The other choices describe either only the bones of the toes or only the fingers, or they point to a tendon, which is not what phalanges are. In reflexology, understanding these bones helps you know where the toe and front-foot areas lie so you can assess and work with those reflex zones accurately.