are thumbs regarded as fingers

[paulollie]

are thumbs regarded as fingers

[MrMistery]

YES

[Poison]

What would you regard them if they are not fingers? Of course they are.

[MrMistery]

you may regard them as toes if you want

[bearhug]

You could just say that all fingers and toes are phalanges.

[paulollie]

the reason why i have asked this is because my friend is adimant that a person has 8 fingers and two thumbs, maitaining that thumbs are not fingers.ive always been taught that thumbs are fingers thus you have ten fingers.

[mith]

Your friend is confused, fingers include all extensions from the hand while "thumb" only refers to the thumbs.

[MrMistery]

1. I was joking when i said toes
2.phalanges are the bones in fingers and toes.
3. Have a look at evolution. Lot's of animals had fingers and no opposable thumb. The thumb is just a more evolved finger

[paulollie]

thanx alot for sorting this out for me i cant' wait to prove my mate wrong its going to be great

[Squawkbox]

Have a look at evolution. Lot's of animals had fingers and no opposable thumb. The thumb is just a more evolved finger

Not true- if anything the thumb is a degenerate finger and most animals do show evidence for havin a thumb that has become so degenerate u dont see it unless u study their bones. The reason our thumb hasnt become degenerate is because we use it and would have a poorer quality of life without it, most animals have no use for a thumb.

[MrMistery]

The human has managed to evolve by using it's brain and creating various tools and inventions. in this creating activity, the thumb was necessary for handeling things. In many ways, we can say it helped us conquer the earth. So excuse me if i think that the thumb is an evolved structure(evolved=gives higher fitness)