Index finger

Index finger
File:Index finger.JPG
Human hand with index finger extended
Artery	radial artery of index finger
Dorlands/Elsevier	i_06/12448665

The second digit of a human hand is also referred to as the index finger, pointer finger, forefinger, digitus secundus, or digitus II.

It is located between the first and third digits - that is, between the thumb and the middle finger. It is usually the most dextrous and sensitive finger of the hand, though not the longest. It may be used to point to things, for hunt and peck typing, to press an elevator button, or to tap on a window. A lone index finger often is used to represent the number 1, or when held up or moved side to side (finger-wagging), it can be an admonitory gesture. With the hand held palm out, it represents the letter d in the American Sign Language alphabet. In sports, it can also represent victory, as some championship-winning teams raise their index finger while posing for a championship team photo.

Studies have also found that a smaller index finger compared with the ring finger indicates a better athlete.

Gestures

As mentioned above, the forefinger can be used for pointing. However, this gesture is considered rude in some countries (Brunei, for instance), and other gestures are used instead.

During the Bosnian war, Serbo-Bosnian troops raised three fingers in a sign of victory, Bosnian Croats raised the two-finger V-sign and Muslims (Bosniaks) raised one (after the strict monotheism of Islam).

Unicode

There are six index finger symbols in Unicode.

• Black left pointing index: U+261A ☚
• Black right pointing index: U+261B ☛
• White left pointing index: U+261C ☜
• White up pointing index: U+261D ☝
• White right pointing index: U+261E ☞
• White down pointing index: U+261F ☟

See also

• Extensor indicis proprius

Additional images

• Creation of Adam (Michelangelo) Detail.jpg

  Sistine Chapel, Detail, Michelangelo

• Mathis Gothart Grünewald 024.jpg

  Isenheim Altarpiece, Detail: Hl. John the Baptist

• Jeanbaptiste.jpg

  John the Baptist, Leonardo da Vinci

• Plato-raphael.jpg

  The School of Athens, Detail, Raphael

• Dislocated finger x-ray.JPG

  Lateral X-ray of left finger, showing proximal interphalangeal joint dislocation and fracture of the base of the middle phalanx

External links

• index+finger at eMedicine Dictionary

Look up forefinger in
Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

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