Lymph supratrochlear | Dorlands
/Elsevier d_18/12296668 | |
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Artery Proper palmar digital arteries,
dorsal digital arteries Vein Palmar digital veins,
dorsal digital veins Nerve Dorsal digital nerves of ulnar nerve Latin digitus minimus manus,
digitus quintus manus,
digitus V manus | ||
The little finger, also known as the fifth digit or pinky, is the most ulnar and usually smallest finger of the human hand, opposite the thumb, and next to the ring finger.
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Etymogy
The word "pinky" is derived from the Dutch word pink, meaning "little finger". In some places "pinky" is also a traditional name for the smallest (youngest) child in a family (especially, when father and mother have 3 children).
Muscles
There are nine muscles that control the fifth digit: Three in the hypothenar eminence, two extrinsic flexors, two extrinsic extensors, and two more intrinsic muscles:
Note: the dorsal interossei of the hand muscles do not have an attachment to the fifth digit
Gestures
Among American children a "pinky swear" (or "pinky promise") is made when a person wraps one of their pinky finger around the other person's pinky and makes a promise. Traditionally, it's considered binding, and the idea was originally that the person who breaks the promise must cut off their pinky finger. In a similar vein, among members of the Japanese yakuza (gangsters), the penalty for various offenses is removal of parts of the little finger (known as yubitsume).
Rings
The Iron Ring is a symbolic ring worn by most Canadian engineers. The Ring is a symbol of both pride and humility for the engineering profession, and is always worn on the pinky of the dominant hand.
In the United Kingdom the signet ring is traditionally worn on the little finger of a gentleman's left hand. In recent years this has relaxed with men and women wearing them on various different fingers; little fingers still tend to be dominant however.
In the United States the Engineer's Ring is a stainless steel ring worn on the fifth finger of the working hand by engineers that belong to the Order of the Engineer and have accepted the Obligation of an Engineer.