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You should try to answer this question before reading this article (or looking at your hand) .
In superficial or surface anatomy the hand is the distal component of the superior extremity. Since anatomy is studied with the specimen in the anatomical position, the hand has an anterior (volar) surface represented by the palm and a posterior (dorsal) surface.
Each hand has a thumb and four (not five) fingers. Why does the thumb have a different name? Because it is different. Look at your hand and you will see that the thumb has only two joints while the fingers have three joints, counting the metacarpophalangeal joint at the base of the fingers and the thumb.
Based on the above, it is wrong to say that you have five fingers in each hand. You have five digits in each hand and they are counted from the lateral aspect, so the thumb is your first digit and the most medial and shortest of the digits is the fifth digit, please do not call it “pinky”. Click here to see interesting anatomical trivia regarding the fifth digit.
It is important to call the components and regions of the body appropriately. And more interestingly (you can look at you hand now), it is fun to know that contrary to popular belief, you do not have a “middle finger”.
Take your time thinking about that one!
Images in the public domain, modified from the original, own work, by Evan-Amos
