30 PHYSIOLOGY AND TEMPERANCE. 



ship with the thumb, is the most useful and important of the 

 fingers. The fingers are of unequal lengths. The longest is 

 called the middle finger ; the next in length is the ring finger, 

 which is only slightly longer than the fore or index finger, 

 while the little finger is the shortest. When the fingers are 

 flexed to form the fist, the tips are almost on an even line. 

 The number of hinge joints in the fingers, together with the 

 additional side motion in the joints which attach the fingers 

 to the hand, gives great freedom of motion to this member. 



25. The Lower Extremities. While the lower limbs 

 have not the many uses of the upper, they perform the 

 distinguishing functions of sustaining the body in the erect 

 position, and of moving it from place to place at the com- 

 mand of the will. 



26. Number of Bones in the Lower Extremities. 



Tn each lower extremity there are thirty bones. In the thigh 

 there is one bone, the femur ; one in front of the knee joint, 

 called the knee cap, knoo pan, or patella; two in the leg, 

 cot-responding to the two in the forearm, and named tV 

 tibia and fibula ; seven in the ankle, the tarsal bones ; five 

 in the instep, the metatarsal, and fourteen in the toes, the 

 phalanges. 



27. The Femur. The thigh bone is the longest and 

 strongest bone in the body. The shaft of this bone is round, 

 like the handle of a club, and inclines towards its fellow at 

 the knee. It is crowned at the upper end by a head and 

 neck. The neck forms an angle with the shaft, like the turn 

 on a walking-cane, so as to bring the head into the deep 

 socket in the pelvic bone. The upper half of this ball-like 

 head is covered with cartilage, and fits accurately into the 

 socket, forming a ball and socket joint, much like the one at 

 the shoulder, but deeper and stronger, though more limited 

 in its movements, The head of the bone is held in place 

 by ttrong ligaments attached around the neck. It la also 



