Utilizing the palm and the flexed fingers to apply force (e.g., swinging a hammer).
If you look at a "homunculus"—a visual map of how much brain real estate is dedicated to different body parts—the hands are enormous. They occupy a massive chunk of the motor cortex, disproportionate to their physical size. arm and hand in motion
Muscles only contract (shorten). To extend your fingers, you don't have muscles on the top of your hand that push the fingers open. Instead, you have muscles in your forearm that pull long tendons—like strings on a marionette—running over the wrist and knuckles. Utilizing the palm and the flexed fingers to apply force (e
Look at your hand. Now, slowly, extend your fingers. Splay them wide. Now, gently bring your thumb across your palm to touch the base of your pinky finger. Now, make a fist. Muscles only contract (shorten)
The Mechanics of Momentum: Understanding the Arm and Hand in Motion
The movement of the arm and hand is made possible by the coordinated effort of multiple joints, muscles, and tendons. The process of movement involves: