Which area of the hand is most sensitive to vibration?

• A. Dorsal surface.
• B. Fingertips.
• C. Fingers and thumb.
• D. Palmar surface and base of fingers.

Answer: (D)

Vibration perception relies on Pacinian corpuscles, which detect high-frequency vibratory energy. These receptors are deepest and most densely packed in the palm surfaces and at the bases of the fingers, where the skin is thick and vibration transmits well through the underlying tissues. That combination gives the greatest sensitivity to vibration in this area. The dorsal surface has less subcutaneous tissue and fewer of these receptors, and while the fingertip pads are sensitive to touch, they’re not as specialized for high-frequency vibration as the palmar base regions. So the palmar surface and base of the fingers show the strongest vibratory sense.