Anterior Perspective of the Various Hand Joints Compromised by Arthritis

Description

Presented from an anterior (palmar) perspective, the hand skeleton is organized from the distal phalanges proximally through the middle and proximal phalanges to the metacarpals and the carpus. Inflammatory emphasis surrounds the interphalangeal joints and the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints, with additional involvement suggested at the thumb (interphalangeal and MCP) and at the radiocarpal region where the proximal carpal row meets the distal radius. Carpal elements lie proximal to the metacarpal bases, while the phalanges align distally in each digit, allowing the viewer to track a joint-by-joint pattern across the rays. Rheumatoid arthritis classically targets the MCP and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints in a symmetric distribution, and this palmar view makes that teaching point easier to land than a generic dorsal hand. Synovitis and pannus formation drive cartilage loss and marginal erosions, setting up tendon imbalance that later presents as ulnar deviation at the MCPs, swan-neck or boutonniere deformities, and thumb collapse patterns (often described clinically as Z-thumb). Small joints matter here. Miss early MCP/PIP disease and you miss the window for disease-modifying therapy that prevents irreversible joint damage. Use this artwork for rheumatology and anatomy teaching when introducing the joint-level distribution of RA in the hand, for patient education materials explaining why pain and stiffness cluster at specific knuckles, or for publications discussing clinical examination, staging, and surgical options such as synovectomy, MCP arthroplasty, or tendon balancing. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.