What is the term for the bones of the fingers and toes?

The term for the bones of the fingers and toes is indeed phalanges. Phalanges are the small bones that make up the digits of the hands and feet, with each finger and toe consisting of three phalanges (proximal, middle, and distal), except for the thumb and big toe, which have two. This anatomical term is essential in understanding the structure of the human body, particularly when coding for injuries or conditions related to these parts during the inpatient coding process.

In contrast, metatarsals refer to the long bones of the foot that are located between the tarsals and the phalanges, while carpals are the eight bones that make up the wrist. Tarsals are the seven bones that comprise the ankle. Each of these terms is related to specific regions of the skeletal system, but none directly refers to the finger and toe bones, making phalanges the correct terminology in this context.