Little finger

Fingers
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Little finger
Latin	digitus minimus manus, digitus quintus, digitus V
Artery	ulnar artery
Nerve	ulnar nerve
Lymph	supratrochlear

The little finger, often called the pinky in American English and pinkie in Scottish English (from the Dutch word pink, meaning little finger), is the most ulnar and usually smallest finger of the human hand, opposite the thumb, next to the ring finger.

The pinky finger extended

[edit] Muscles

There are four muscles that control the little finger, three of which comprise a group called the hypothenar eminence :

hypothenar eminence
- Opponens digiti minimi muscle
- Abductor minimi digiti muscle (adduction from third palmar interossei)
- Flexor digiti minimi brevis (the "longus" is absent in most humans)
Extensor digiti minimi muscle

[edit] Cultural significance

[edit] Gestures

In the USA a pinky swear or pinky promise is made when a person wraps one of their pinky fingers around the other person's pinky and makes a promise. Traditionally, it's considered binding, and the idea was originally that the person who breaks the promise must cut off their pinky finger. In a similar vein, among members of the Japanese yakuza (gangsters), the penalty for various offenses is removal of parts of the little finger (known as yubitsume).

In Australia, when a male driver is showing signs of road rage, a woman will hold up her little finger, Showing that she believes the male driver has a small penis, trying to impress her. By doing this she shows that she is not fooled by his road rage to cover up for a small penis size and to impress her. The Australian government used this idea as a campaign to stop vehicle accidents and speeding, using ads on every channel of television broadcasting, many street posters and radio ads.

In Japan, holding up a little finger while speaking of two people signifies that they are in a relationship. This little finger substitution is considered vulgar and old-fashioned, however, in some anime scenes is intentionally used to enhance its silliness

In India, holding up the little finger is a signal that the person has to urinate.

Similarly, in Indonesia, when a man points his little finger downward it is a signal that he needs to urinate.

In Turkey and in Colombia, it's tradition to link little fingers when two people are making a bet.

In Judaism, it is customary to extend one's arm and little finger to the Torah as it is lifted following its reading in the Synagogue, although there is no source for this practice in Judaic literature.

In Israel, if one hands out his or her hand to another, with only the little finger lifted, it is a sign of reconciliation (called a "Sholem," usually used by younger children).

In Russia, when two people are French-kissing, it is customary to often link little fingers together.

Chapman University students hold up one pinky as a sign of professionalism.

[edit] Rings

The Iron Ring is a symbolic ring worn by most Canadian engineers. The Ring is a symbol of both pride and humility for the engineering profession, and is always worn on the little finger of the dominant hand.

In the United States the Engineer's Ring is a stainless steel ring worn on the fifth finger of the working hand by engineers that belong to the Order of the Engineerand have accepted the Obligation of an Engineer.

Signet rings are often worn on the little finger.