Topics

Topic

design image
Body of distal phalanx

The body of the distal phalanx refers to the central shaft portion of the terminal phalanx of the fingers or toes. It forms the main structural segment between the base proximally and the tuft distally, providing rigidity and support to the tip of the digit and serving as an attachment site for soft tissues and nail-related structures.

It is an important anatomical region in hand and foot imaging, trauma evaluation, and musculoskeletal assessment.

Synonyms

  • Shaft of the distal phalanx

  • Diaphysis of the distal phalanx

Location

  • Situated between the base and the tuft of the distal phalanx

  • Located at the terminal part of each digit

  • Distal to the middle phalanx (in fingers)

  • Proximal to the distal phalangeal tuft

  • Surrounded by nail bed and digital soft tissues

Anatomical components

  • Cortical bone shell

  • Central cancellous bone

  • Narrow medullary cavity

  • Dorsal surface:

    • Closely related to the nail bed

  • Volar surface:

    • Related to the pulp and flexor tendon insertion

Relations

Dorsally:

  • Nail bed and nail plate

Ventrally (volarly):

  • Digital pulp

  • Flexor digitorum profundus tendon insertion (near base)

Proximally:

  • Base of the distal phalanx

  • Distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint

Distally:

  • Distal phalangeal tuft

Laterally:

  • Digital neurovascular bundles

X-ray appearance

Plain radiographs (AP, lateral, and oblique views):

  • Body: Appears as a slender tubular segment between base and tuft

  • Cortical margins: Thin, smooth, and well-defined

  • Medullary cavity: Narrow and often poorly visualized

  • Alignment: In line with proximal phalanges

CT appearance

Non-contrast CT:

  • Body: Well-defined tubular bony shaft

  • Cortex: Clearly outlined

  • Trabecular pattern: Fine cancellous bone centrally

  • Spatial resolution: Excellent for evaluating contour and cortical detail

MRI appearance

T1-weighted images:

  • Cortical bone: Low signal intensity

  • Marrow: Intermediate to high signal depending on age and fatty content

  • Body outline: Clearly delineated from surrounding soft tissues

T2-weighted images:

  • Cortex: Low signal

  • Marrow: Intermediate signal

  • Surrounding soft tissues: Higher signal

STIR:

  • Marrow fat: Uniformly suppressed

  • Body margins: Well visualized

  • Soft tissues: High signal, outlining the bone clearly

Proton density fat-saturated (PD FS):

  • Marrow fat: Suppressed signal

  • Cortex: Persistently low signal

  • Adjacent soft tissues: High signal with excellent contrast

MRI image

Body of distal phalanx mri image

X-Ray image

Body of distal phalanx