[dod]

Have recently destroyed one of my fingers (with a pretty large pop) and am trawling through all the old ukb threads for advice etc. however im a bit of a dunce with all the lingo that people are using making it quite hard to interpret it all in a meaningful way.
so what do these things really mean?:
1) a2 a1 a3 etc
2) pulley (is this a ligament or a tendon and where is it and what does it do)
3) flexor (same again)
4) rupture (sounds nasty) does this mean its totally snapped?

Also i see its pretty universally recommended to see a specialist soon as, but who do you go to for a finger injury? eg physio, chiropractor etc? and whilst your at it can you recommend one in sheffield?

[The Sausage]

Hi dod.

The pulleys are bands of connective tissue (basically ligaments) that effectively form a tunnel along the palmar side of the finger. They are numbered from A1 to A5. A2 and A4 are the pulleys around the centre of each of the bones of the finger, and so are the most important - it's probably easier to look at an anatomy on-line book (Grays?) to picture it.

The flexor tendons connect the forearm muscles that flex the fingers to the bones of the fingers.

Basically, the job of the pulleys is to keep the flexor tendons next to the bone; otherwise they'd bowstring across the palm.

Having got this far, i think you'd be best looking it up yourself in ananatomy book/medical dictionary. It's too long winded and clunky to describe anatomy in words. and as for definitions...

[slackline]

Great general book on anatomy that can be picked up for cheap is Gray's Anatomy in anyone of its 100+ editions.

Or check out the online version of the 20^th edition from 1918.

[Fultonius]

WARNING: Don't click if you're squeamish. 

http://www.turntillburn.ch/cms/ttb/index.php?id=93&L=1

[clgladiator]

hey dude, was sorry to hear bout your finger,  dave mac. has some good stuff on his site I've uploaded a diagram from Horst of the tendon's etc. within a finger, which ive posted on the Flickr group . Also if you want to borrow the horst book, then let me know. Its not great, but does have a bit on injuries in there.

Chris.

[dod]

had a look at grays online, made me feel thouroughly sick, but i think ive got the idea. think im defo going to have to avoid fultonius's link by thee sound of it.  the one thing im still not clear on; is a1 at the base of the finger and a5 towards the tip?

[clgladiator]

is a1 at the base of the finger and a5 towards the tip?

Correct 

[dod]

wow, its like you do some sort of biology degree

[Fultonius]

Go on...click it...you kow you want to. It just looks lie KFC chiken wings...

[dod]

why  o why did i give in to temptation?!  makes me never want to us a sharp pocket again!  helpfull though, does a better job of explaining it than grays with added gruesome factor

[slackline]

why  o why did i give in to temptation?!  makes me never want to us a sharp pocket again!  helpfull though, does a better job of explaining it than grays with added gruesome factor

You should get yourself down to Bodyworlds next time its on nearby.  One of the most educational exhibitions you will ever go to.

[Lund]

Go on...click it...you kow you want to. It just looks lie KFC chiken wings...

Jesus Titty Fucking Christ!