Milady Esthetics State Board Practice Test

Where are your phalanges located?

1. Feet

2. Shoulders

3. Fingers

4. Knees

The correct answer is: Fingers

The phalanges are the bones found in the fingers and toes. In the context of this question, the term specifically refers to the bones that make up the fingers. Each finger consists of three phalanges—proximal, middle, and distal—except for the thumb, which has two phalanges. Understanding the anatomy of the hand is essential in esthetics, as treatments often involve the hands, and knowledge of anatomical structures helps in providing effective services and avoiding injury. Options referring to the feet, shoulders, or knees are incorrect because the phalanges are not situated in these parts of the body. The bones in the feet are referred to in a similar way as the phalanges but are specifically termed as the phalangeal bones of the toes. The shoulders involve a different set of bones known as the scapula and clavicle, and the knees are associated with the femur, tibia, and patella, not the phalanges.