Arms vs. Hand — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on April 8, 2024
Arms refer to the entire upper limbs from shoulder to wrist, while hands are the complex structures at the end of the arms.
Difference Between Arms and Hand
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Arms are the upper limbs of the human body, extending from the shoulder to the wrist. Whereas hands are located at the distal end of the arms and consist of the wrist, palm, fingers, and thumb. Hands are incredibly versatile and capable of performing intricate tasks, such as writing, typing, and gripping objects.
While arms are primarily thought of in terms of their muscular strength and ability to execute gross motor movements, hands are celebrated for their fine motor skills and tactile sensitivity. The distinction between the roles of arms and hands is evident in how they are used in daily activities; arms enable the broad movements necessary for tasks like swinging a bat, while hands allow for the detailed actions required for tasks like buttoning a shirt.
The structure of arms provides the leverage and strength needed to lift and move objects, serving as a bridge that transmits the force generated by the body's torso and shoulders to the hands. On the other hand, the hand's structure, including its bones, joints, and muscular coordination, allows for a remarkable range of movements and the ability to manipulate objects in complex ways.
In terms of medical care and rehabilitation, the approach to treating arms versus hands can differ significantly due to their distinct functions and structures. Injuries to the arms may focus on restoring overall strength and range of motion, whereas injuries to the hands may require more specialized attention to regain fine motor skills and sensitivity.
Despite their differences, the arms and hands work in concert to perform a vast array of tasks that are essential to daily life, demonstrating the incredible versatility and adaptability of the human body.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
Upper limbs from shoulder to wrist
End part of the arm, including wrist, palm, and fingers
Function
Involved in lifting, holding, throwing
Capable of intricate tasks like writing, typing
Components
Humerus, ulna, radius, muscles
Bones, joints, sensory receptors
Skills
Gross motor movements
Fine motor skills and tactile sensitivity
Role
Provide leverage and strength
Manipulate objects in detailed ways
Compare with Definitions
Arms
Involved in a wide range of motions.
The boxer's strong arms were key to his success.
Hand
The complex structure at the end of the arm.
She adorned her hand with rings.
Arms
Serve as conduits of force for hand activities.
The pitcher's arm threw the ball with precision.
Hand
Consists of the wrist, palm, fingers, and thumb.
The pianist's hands moved gracefully across the keys.
Arms
The upper limbs of the body from the shoulder to the wrist.
She raised her arms in victory.
Hand
Involves fine motor skills and manipulation.
Crafting jewelry requires skilled hand work.
Arms
Essential for gross motor movements.
Lifting weights strengthens the arms.
Hand
Capable of performing intricate tasks.
His hand was steady as he painted the fine details.
Arms
Comprise bones, muscles, and joints facilitating movement.
An injury to the arm can significantly impair mobility.
Hand
Highly sensitive and dexterous.
Surgeons rely on their hands' tactile sensitivity.
Arms
An upper limb of the human body, connecting the hand and wrist to the shoulder.
Hand
A hand is a prehensile, multi-fingered appendage located at the end of the forearm or forelimb of primates such as humans, chimpanzees, monkeys, and lemurs. A few other vertebrates such as the koala (which has two opposable thumbs on each "hand" and fingerprints extremely similar to human fingerprints) are often described as having "hands" instead of paws on their front limbs.
Arms
A part similar to a human arm, such as the forelimb of an animal or a long part projecting from a central support in a machine.
Hand
The end part of a person's arm beyond the wrist, including the palm, fingers, and thumb
The palm of her hand
He was leading her by the hand
Arms
Something, such as a sleeve on a garment or a support on a chair, that is designed to cover or support the human arm.
Hand
A pointer on a clock or watch indicating the passing of units of time
The second hand
Arms
A relatively narrow extension jutting out from a large mass:an arm of the sea.
Hand
Used in reference to the power to direct something
The day-to-day running of the house was in her hands
They are taking the law into their own hands
Arms
An administrative or functional branch, as of an organization.
Hand
A person's workmanship, especially in artistic work
His idiosyncratic hand
Arms
Power or authority:the long arm of the law.
Hand
A person who engages in manual labour, especially in a factory, on a farm, or on board a ship
A factory hand
The ship was lost with all hands
Arms
(Sports)The skill of throwing or pitching a ball well.
Hand
The set of cards dealt to a player in a card game
The situation does not give them a strong hand at the negotiating table
He's got a good hand
Arms
A weapon, especially a firearm
Troops bearing arms.
ICBMs, bombs, and other nuclear arms.
Hand
A unit of measurement of a horse's height, equal to 4 inches (10.16 cm).
Arms
A branch of a military force
Infantry, armor, and other combat arms.
Hand
A bunch of bananas
Mottled hands of bananas
Arms
Warfare
A call to arms against the invaders.
Hand
Pick (something) up and give it to (someone)
I handed the trowel back to him
He handed each man a glass
Arms
Military service
Several million volunteers under arms.
The profession of arms.
Hand
Hold the hand of (someone) in order to guide them in a specified direction
He handed them into the carriage
Arms
(Heraldry) Bearings.
Hand
Take in or furl (a sail)
Hand in the main!
Arms
Insignia, as of a state, an official, a family, or an organization.
Hand
The terminal part of the human arm located below the forearm, used for grasping and holding and consisting of the wrist, palm, four fingers, and an opposable thumb.
Arms
To supply or equip oneself with weaponry.
Hand
A homologous or similar part in other animals, as the terminal part of the forelimb in certain vertebrates.
Arms
To prepare oneself for warfare or conflict.
Hand
A unit of length equal to 4 inches (10.2 centimeters), used especially to specify the height of a horse.
Arms
To equip with weapons
Armed themselves with loaded pistols.
Arm a missile with a warhead.
Arm a nation for war.
Hand
Any of the rotating pointers used as indexes on the face of a mechanical clock.
Arms
To equip with what is needed for effective action
Tax advisers who were armed with the latest forms.
Hand
A pointer, as on a gauge or dial.
Arms
To provide with something that strengthens or protects
A space reentry vehicle that was armed with a ceramic shield.
Hand
(Printing)See index.
Arms
To prepare (a weapon or electronic system, such as an alarm) for use or operation, as by releasing a safety device.
Hand
Lateral direction indicated according to the way in which one is facing
At my right hand.
Arms
Weaponry, weapons
Hand
A style or individual sample of writing.
Arms
(heraldry) A visual design composed according to heraldic rules, consisting of a coat of arms normally displayed upon an escutcheon, sometimes accompanied by other elements of an achievement
The arms of England are: gules, three lions passant gardant or.
Hand
A signature
Put my hand to the contract.
Arms
Plural of arm
Hand
A round of applause to signify approval.
Arms
Instruments or weapons of offense or defense.
He lays down his arms, but not his wiles.
Three horses and three goodly suits of arms.
Hand
Physical assistance; help
Gave me a hand with the bags.
Arms
The deeds or exploits of war; military service or science.
Hand
Hands Sports A hand ball in soccer.
Arms
Anything which a man takes in his hand in anger, to strike or assault another with; an aggressive weapon.
Hand
The cards held in a card game by a given player at any time.
Arms
The ensigns armorial of a family, consisting of figures and colors borne in shields, banners, etc., as marks of dignity and distinction, and descending from father to son.
Hand
The number of cards dealt each player; the deal.
Arms
The legs of a hawk from the thigh to the foot.
Hand
A player or participant in a card game
We need a fourth hand for bridge.
Arms
Weapons considered collectively
Hand
A portion or section of a game during which all the cards dealt out are played
A hand of poker.
Arms
The official symbols of a family, state, etc.
Hand
One who performs manual labor
A factory hand.
Hand
One who is part of a group or crew
The ship's hands.
Hand
A participant in an activity, often one who specializes in a particular activity or pursuit
An old hand at labor negotiations.
Hand
The degree of immediacy of a source of information; degree of reliability
Heard the scandalous tale at third hand.
Hand
The strength or force of one's position
Negotiated from a strong hand.
Hand
Often hands Possession, ownership, or keeping
The books should be in your hands by noon.
Hand
Power; jurisdiction; care
The defendant's fate is in the hands of the jury. Dinner is in the chef's hands.
Hand
Involvement or participation
"In all this was evident the hand of the counterrevolutionaries" (John Reed).
Hand
An influence or effect
The manager had a hand in all major decisions.
Hand
Evidence of craft or artistic skill
Can see the hand of a genius even in the lighter poems.
Hand
An aptitude or ability
I tried my hand at decorating.
Hand
The aesthetic feel or tactile quality of something, such as a fabric, textile, or carpeting, that indicates its fineness, texture, and durability.
Hand
A manner or way of performing something
A light hand with makeup.
Hand
Permission or a promise, especially a pledge to wed.
Hand
A commitment or agreement, especially when sealed by a handshake; one's word
You have my hand on that.
Hand
To give or pass with or as if with the hands; transmit
Hand me your keys.
Hand
To aid, direct, or conduct with the hands
The usher handed the patron to a reserved seat.
Hand
(Nautical)To roll up and secure (a sail); furl.
Hand
To give (the ball) directly to a teammate, as in football. Often used with off.
Hand
To carry, strike, or propel (the ball) with the hand or arm in violation of the rules in soccer.
Hand
To make a handoff, as in football. Often used with off.
Hand
The part of the forelimb below the forearm or wrist in a human, and the corresponding part in many other animals.
Her hands are really strong.
Hand
That which resembles, or to some extent performs the office of, a human hand.
Hand
A limb of certain animals, such as the foot of a hawk, or any one of the four extremities of a monkey.
Hand
An index or pointer on a dial; such as the hour and minute hands on the face of an analog clock, which are used to indicate the time of day.
Hand
That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once.
Hand
(card games) The set of cards held by a player.
Hand
(tobacco manufacturing) A bundle of tobacco leaves tied together.
Hand
(collective) A bunch of bananas.
Hand
That which has the appearance of, a human hand.
Hand
A bunch of bananas, a typical retail amount, where individual fruits are fingers.
Hand
In linear measurement:
Hand
Four inches, a hand's breadth.
Hand
(obsolete) Three inches.
Hand
A side; part, camp; direction, either right or left.
Hand
Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill; dexterity.
Hand
(especially in compounds) An agent; a servant, or manual laborer; a workman, trained or competent for special service or duty.
Large farms need many farm hands.
Hand
A performer more or less skilful.
An old hand at public speaking
Hand
An instance of helping.
Bob gave Alice a hand to move the furniture.
Hand
Handwriting; style of penmanship.
A good hand
Hand
A person's autograph or signature.
Given under my Hand and Seal of the State this 1st Day of January, 2010.
Hand
Promise, word.
Hand
Personal possession; ownership.
Hand
Management, domain, control.
In safe hands;
In good hands;
He lost his job when the factory changed hands.
With the business back in the founder's hands, there is new hope for the company.
With John in charge of the project, it's in good hands.
Hand
Applause.
Give him a hand.
Hand
(historical) A Native American gambling game, involving guessing the whereabouts of bits of ivory or similar, which are passed rapidly from hand to hand.
Hand
(firearms) The small part of a gunstock near the lock, which is grasped by the hand in taking aim.
Hand
A whole rhizome of ginger.
Hand
The feel of a fabric; the impression or quality of the fabric as judged qualitatively by the sense of touch.
This fabric has a smooth, soft hand.
Hand
(archaic) Actual performance; deed; act; workmanship; agency; hence, manner of performance.
Hand
(archaic) Agency in transmission from one person to another.
To buy at first hand (from the producer, or when new);
To buy at second hand (when no longer in the producer’s hand, or when not new);
It's not a rumor. I heard it at first hand.
Hand
(obsolete) Rate; price.
Hand
(transitive) To give, pass or transmit with the hand, literally or figuratively.
He handed them the letter.
She handed responsibility over to her deputy.
Hand
(transitive) To lead, guide, or assist with the hand; to conduct.
To hand a lady into a carriage
Hand
To manage.
Hand
To seize; to lay hands on.
Hand
To pledge by the hand; to handfast.
Hand
To furl.
Hand
To cooperate.
Hand
That part of the fore limb below the forearm or wrist in man and monkeys, and the corresponding part in many other animals; manus; paw. See Manus.
Hand
That which resembles, or to some extent performs the office of, a human hand
Hand
A measure equal to a hand's breadth, - four inches; a palm. Chiefly used in measuring the height of horses.
Hand
Side; part; direction, either right or left.
On this hand and that hand, were hangings.
The Protestants were then on the winning hand.
Hand
Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill; dexterity.
He had a great mind to try his hand at a Spectator.
Hand
Actual performance; deed; act; workmanship; agency; hence, manner of performance.
To change the hand in carrying on the war.
Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by my hand.
Hand
An agent; a servant, or laborer; a workman, trained or competent for special service or duty; a performer more or less skillful; as, a deck hand; a farm hand; an old hand at speaking.
A dictionary containing a natural history requires too many hands, as well as too much time, ever to be hoped for.
I was always reckoned a lively hand at a simile.
Hand
Handwriting; style of penmanship; as, a good, bad, or running hand. Hence, a signature.
I say she never did invent this letter;This is a man's invention and his hand.
Some writs require a judge's hand.
Hand
Personal possession; ownership; hence, control; direction; management; - usually in the plural.
Albinus . . . found means to keep in his hands the government of Britain.
Hand
Agency in transmission from one person to another; as, to buy at first hand, that is, from the producer, or when new; at second hand, that is, when no longer in the producer's hand, or when not new.
Hand
Rate; price.
Hand
That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once
Hand
The small part of a gunstock near the lock, which is grasped by the hand in taking aim.
Hand
A gambling game played by American Indians, consisting of guessing the whereabouts of bits of ivory or the like, which are passed rapidly from hand to hand.
Hand
To give, pass, or transmit with the hand; as, he handed them the letter.
Hand
To lead, guide, or assist with the hand; to conduct; as, to hand a lady into a carriage.
Hand
To manage; as, I hand my oar.
Hand
To seize; to lay hands on.
Hand
To pledge by the hand; to handfast.
Hand
To furl; - said of a sail.
Hand
To coöperate.
Hand
The (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb;
He had the hands of a surgeon
He extended his mitt
Hand
A hired laborer on a farm or ranch;
The hired hand fixed the railing
A ranch hand
Hand
Something written by hand;
She recognized his handwriting
His hand was illegible
Hand
Ability;
He wanted to try his hand at singing
Hand
A position given by its location to the side of an object;
Objections were voiced on every hand
Hand
The cards held in a card game by a given player at any given time;
I didn't hold a good hand all evening
He kept trying to see my hand
Hand
One of two sides of an issue;
On the one hand..., but on the other hand...
Hand
A rotating pointer on the face of a timepiece;
The big hand counts the minutes
Hand
A unit of length equal to 4 inches; used in measuring horses;
The horse stood 20 hands
Hand
A member of the crew of a ship;
All hands on deck
Hand
A card player in a game of bridge;
We need a 4th hand for bridge
Hand
A round of applause to signify approval;
Give the little lady a great big hand
Hand
Terminal part of the forelimb in certain vertebrates (e.g. apes or kangaroos);
The kangaroo's forearms seem undeveloped but the powerful five-fingered hands are skilled at feinting and clouting
Hand
Physical assistance;
Give me a hand with the chores
Hand
Place into the hands or custody of;
Hand me the spoon, please
Turn the files over to me, please
He turned over the prisoner to his lawyers
Hand
Guide or conduct or usher somewhere;
Hand the elderly lady into the taxi
Common Curiosities
Can injuries to the arm affect hand function?
Yes, injuries to the arm can impair the ability to use the hand, affecting strength, movement, and coordination.
What are the main functions of the arms?
The arms are involved in lifting, holding, and performing a range of broad physical activities.
How do the hands contribute to the dexterity of the human body?
Hands allow for intricate tasks and manipulation of objects thanks to their complex structure and fine motor skills.
Why are hands considered unique in the animal kingdom?
Hands' ability to perform detailed tasks, their tactile sensitivity, and dexterity make them unique.
What distinguishes fine motor skills from gross motor movements?
Fine motor skills involve small movements, primarily of the hands and fingers, while gross motor movements involve larger muscles of the arm and body.
How are arm and hand movements coordinated?
Arm and hand movements are coordinated through a complex network of muscles, nerves, and brain functions, allowing for precise and fluid motion.
What are the key components of the arm?
The arm includes bones like the humerus, ulna, and radius, along with muscles and joints.
Why is the hand's sensitivity important?
Sensitivity in the hand is crucial for detecting texture, temperature, and pressure, aiding in manipulation and interaction with the environment.
How do medical professionals approach arm vs. hand injuries?
Treatment varies; arm injuries may focus on restoring strength and mobility, while hand injuries often require precise interventions to regain fine motor skills.
What role do the arms play in body language?
Arms can express emotions and nonverbal cues, such as openness or defensiveness, through gestures and positioning.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Bract vs. Bracteole
Next Comparison
Certificate vs. TestimonialAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
