A thumb is a digit, but not technically a finger. Many people don’t make the distinction between thumbs and other digits. How many fingers do you have? Your answer might depend on whether you consider your thumb to be a finger. Let’s look into whether or not you can accurately call your thumb a finger.

The thumb is one of five digits on each hand, but it has a different shape and function from the other digits. However, most medical guides refer to the thumb as a finger. Also known as the pollex or digitus primus manus, the thumb is anatomically different from the hand’s other four digits.