Index finger

Index finger
Human hand with index finger extended
Artery	radial artery of index finger

A man pointing at a woman during a political argument

The index finger, (also referred to as forefinger, pointer finger, trigger finger, digitus secundus, or digitus II), is the first finger and the second digit of a human hand. Only those without a medical background should call this digit the forefinger as its anatomical names are either index finger or 2nd digit.

It is located between the first and third digits - that is, between the thumb and the middle finger. It is usually the most dextrous and sensitive finger of the hand, though not the longest. A lone index finger often is used to represent the number 1, or when held up or moved side to side (finger-wagging), it can be an admonitory gesture. With the hand held palm out and the thumb and middle fingers touching, it represents the letter d in the American Sign Language alphabet. In sports, it can also represent victory, as some championship-winning teams raise their index finger (often saying "We're number one!") while posing for a championship team photo.

Men are 2.5 times more likely than women to have an index finger which is shorter than their ring finger, and such ratios correlate with an increased likelihood of osteoarthritis, especially for women.^[1]

Gestures

Pointing directly with the index finger at a person is considered rude in Western culture. A more polite way of pointing to a person would be to direct the hand in their direction, as if holding a plate.

During the Bosnian war, Serbian troops raised three fingers in a sign of victory (which represents the Father, Son and Holy Spirit - the way that orthodox Christians cross themselves), Croatians raised the two-finger V-sign and Bosnians raised one (after the strict monotheism of Islam).

Additional images

Sistine Chapel, Detail, Michelangelo	Isenheim Altarpiece, Detail: Hl. John the Baptist	John the Baptist, Leonardo da Vinci
The School of Athens, Detail, Raphael	Lateral X-ray of left finger, showing proximal interphalangeal joint dislocation and fracture of the base of the middle phalanx

See also

• Extensor indicis proprius
• Index (typography)
• Digit ratio
• Fingering

References

External links

• Media related to Index finger at Wikimedia Commons
• index+finger at eMedicine Dictionary