Middle finger

For the offensive gesture, see The finger.

For other uses, see Middle finger (disambiguation).

The middle finger, long finger, second finger,^[1][2] third finger,^[3] toll finger or tall man is the third digit of the human hand, located between the index finger and the ring finger. It is typically the longest digit. In anatomy, it is also called the third finger, digitus medius, digitus tertius or digitus III.

Middle finger
Middle finger of the left hand
Details
Artery	Proper palmar digital arteries, dorsal digital arteries
Vein	Palmar digital veins, dorsal digital veins
Nerve	Dorsal digital nerves of radial nerve, proper palmar digital nerves of median nerve
Identifiers
Latin	digitus III manus, digitus medius manus, digitus tertius manus
TA98	A01.1.00.055
TA2	153
FMA	24947
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

Overview

In Western countries, extending the middle finger (either by itself, or along with the index finger in the United Kingdom: see V sign) is an offensive and obscene gesture, widely recognized as a form of insult, due to its resemblance of an erect penis.^[4][5] It is known, colloquially, as "flipping the bird",^[6] "flipping (someone) off", or "giving (someone) the finger".

The middle finger is often used for finger snapping together with the thumb.^[7]

See also

• Finger numbering
• Galileo's middle finger