PHALANX (phalanges)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected form: phalanges   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does phalanx mean? 

• PHALANX (noun)
  The noun PHALANX has 3 senses:

1. any of the bones of the fingers or toes

2. any closely ranked crowd of people

3. a body of troops in close array

  Familiarity information: PHALANX used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PHALANX (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any of the bones of the fingers or toes

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Hypernyms ("phalanx" is a kind of...):

bone; os (rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates)

Holonyms ("phalanx" is a part of...):

dactyl; digit (a finger or toe in human beings or corresponding body part in other vertebrates)

Derivation:

phalangeal (of or relating to the bones of the fingers or toes)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Any closely ranked crowd of people

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Hypernyms ("phalanx" is a kind of...):

crowd (a large number of things or people considered together)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A body of troops in close array

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Hypernyms ("phalanx" is a kind of...):

force; military force; military group; military unit (a unit that is part of some military service)

Domain category:

armed forces; armed services; military; military machine; war machine (the military forces of a nation)

 Context examples 

A condyloid synovial joint within the thumb connecting the proximal and distal phalanges.

(Interphalangeal Thumb Joint, NCI Thesaurus)

It usually occurs in the subcutaneous tissue of the proximal phalanx.

(Fibroosseous Pseudotumor of the Digits, NCI Thesaurus)

The hinge synovial joints between the phalanges of the fingers.

(Interphalangeal Joint of the Hand, NCI Thesaurus)

A ginglymoid (hinge) synovial joint within the fifth digit of the foot connecting the proximal and middle phalanges.

(Interphalangeal Joint 5, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

A ginglymoid (hinge) synovial joint within the fourth digit of the foot connecting the proximal and middle phalanges.

(Interphalangeal Joint 4, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

A ginglymoid (hinge) synovial joint between the phalanges of the fifth digit of the hand or foot.

(Interphalangeal Joint 5, NCI Thesaurus)

A ginglymoid (hinge) synovial joint between the phalanges of the fourth digit of the hand or foot.

(Interphalangeal Joint 4, NCI Thesaurus)

The second and third interosseous muscles are inserted into the third proximal phalanx while the first is inserted into the second proximal phalanx and the fourth is inserted into the fourth proximal phalanx.

(Dorsal Hand Interosseous Muscle, NCI Thesaurus)

A condyloid synovial joint within the fourth digit of the hand or foot connecting the middle and distal phalanges.

(Distal Interphalangeal Joint 4, NCI Thesaurus)

A condyloid synovial joint within the thrid digit of the hand or foot connecting the middle and distal phalanges.

(Distal Interphalangeal Joint 3, NCI Thesaurus)