Carpal bones

The triangular hamate bone and its hook-shaped prominence is found beneath the fourth and fifth metacarpals on the ulnar side of the hand. The structure also connects to the capitate bone as you move laterally towards the thumb and to the triquetrum as you move proximally down the hand toward the wrist. Together, these structures use the hook of the hamate as an anatomical pulley which enables them to flex or curl the fourth and fifth fingers. This important action allows the hand to form a strong grip when holding or manipulating objects. It also assists with many different fine motor activities performed by the hand. Swelling and bruising may also occur in the hand or fingers depending on the acuity of the injury. In addition, weak and painful gripping may also be present. In more chronic situations, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the fourth and fifth fingers may also occur if the hook of the hamate is involved due to its proximity to the ulnar nerve in Guyon’s canal. Treatment Diagnosis of hamate fractures can be challenging with standard X-ray imaging and is often missed initially. If hand symptoms cause a doctor to be suspicious of this type of injury, more specific X-ray views or even magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a computed tomography (CT) scan may be necessary to properly identify the fracture. Once a hamate injury is located and diagnosed, treatment can occur. Initially, fractures to the body or the hook of the hamate that are non-displaced (ones that d...

Overview Wrist pain is often caused by sprains or fractures from sudden injuries. But wrist pain also can result from long-term problems, such as repetitive stress, arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. Because so many factors can lead to wrist pain, diagnosing the exact cause can be difficult. But an accurate diagnosis is essential for proper treatment and healing. Symptoms Wrist pain may vary, depending on the cause. For example, osteoarthritis pain often is described as being similar to a dull toothache. Carpal tunnel syndrome usually causes a pins-and-needles feeling. This tingling sensation usually occurs in the thumb and index and middle fingers, especially at night. The precise location of wrist pain also provides clues to what's behind the symptoms. When to see a doctor Not all wrist pain requires medical care. Minor sprains and strains usually respond to ice, rest and pain medications you can buy without a prescription. But if pain and swelling last longer than a few days or become worse, see your health care provider. Delayed diagnosis and treatment can lead to poor healing, reduced range of motion and long-term disability. Causes Damage to any of the parts of your wrist can cause pain and affect your ability to use your wrist and hand. The damage may result from: Injuries • Sudden impacts. Wrist injuries often occur when you fall forward onto your outstretched hand. This can cause sprains, strains and even fractures. A scaphoid fracture involves a bone on the th...

Mnemonics of the carpal bones are numerous and useful for memorizing the order and location of the bones. Some mnemonics name the • So Long To Pinky, Here Comes The Thumb • Straight Line To Pinky, Here Comes The Thumb Other mnemonics describe the position of the • Sam Likes To Push, The Toy Car Hard • Sally Left The Party, To Take Cathy Home • Some Lovers Try Positions, That They Cannot Handle • She Likes To Play, Try To Catch Her Mnemonic • S: • L: • T: • P: • H: • C: • T: • T: Bones are named related to their shape, which can be additionally useful for identification: • scaphoid: boat-shaped on frontal view • lunate: moon/crescent-shaped on lateral view • triquetrum: triangular • pisiform: pea-shaped • hamate: with a hook • capitate: head-shaped, large and central • trapezoid and trapezium: table-shaped (four-sided) Additional mnemonics help distinguish the carpal bones that start with T: • trapezi um is under the th umb (articulating with the first metacarpal) • trapezo id is ins ide (surrounded by four other bones)

The wrist links the hand to the carpal bones) and ligaments. The carpal bones are arranged in 2 interrelated rows. One row connects with the ends of the bones in the forearm—the radius and ulna. If you hold your hand in the thumbs-up position, the bone on the top of your forearm is the radius; the one on the bottom is the ulna. The other row of carpal bones connects with the bones of the palm of the hand. There are synovial joints between the carpal bones in the wrist. The joint surfaces, where the bones meet, are covered with articular cartilage.Articular cartilage is smooth and slick, which enables very smooth and pain-free motion. The hand is made up of many bones: 5 elongated metacarpal bones, which are next to the wrist and help to make up the palm; 14 phalanges which make up the fingers. Each finger is made up of 3 phalanges; the thumb is made up of 2. These 19 bones collectively form 14 separate joints. The knuckles, known as the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints, join the fingers to the palm. The interphalangeal (IP) joints are the finger joints. All of these small joints are known as synovial joints and are covered with articular cartilage. Hand Muscles and Hand Tendons The muscles in the forearm and palm (thenar muscles) all work together to keep the wrist and hand moving, stable, and well-aligned. The image below shows the bones of the hand from the back side. The red lines show where the tendons attach the muscles to the bones. Many of the muscles that move the ...

Enter search terms to find related medical topics, multimedia and more. Advanced Search: • Use “ “ for phrases o [ “pediatric abdominal pain” ] • Use – to remove results with certain terms o [ “abdominal pain” –pediatric ] • Use OR to account for alternate terms o [teenager OR adolescent ] Search A-Z The fingers may tingle and feel numb because the dislocated bone puts pressure on the carpal tunnel (a narrow passageway of fibrous tissue) and the nerves and blood vessels it contains (causing symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful compression (pinching) of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. The cause of most cases of carpal tunnel syndrome is unknown... read more ). The blood supply to bones in the wrist may be reduced or disrupted, and bone tissue may die. Over time, the wrist joint may deteriorate, causing disabling arthritis. Diagnosis of a Dislocated Hand or Wrist Bone Doctors suspect perilunate and lunate dislocations based on symptoms and the circumstances of the injury. X-rays A doctor can often diagnose a musculoskeletal disorder based on the history and the results of a physical examination. Laboratory tests, imaging tests, or other diagnostic procedures are sometimes... read more are taken to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment of a Dislocated Hand or Wrist Bone

What are the Carpal Bones The carpal bones are a group of [24] in the human hand that forms the wrist along with the distal ends of the [1]. Hence, they are also known as wrist bones. Collectively known as the carpus, they individually articulate with the How Many Carpal Bones are there in the Hand There are 8 bones in the human wrist, each one being named according to its shape: • • • • • • • • The capitate is the largest of all carpal bones [2]. Carpal Bones X-Ray Anatomy Functions Each carpal bone is vital in forming the carpus or wrist joint, which is the key to hand movement [14], allowing us to do anything from writing, typing, and eating to holding anything in hand. The carpal bones are the connection between the forearm and hand and are the key to torque generation, which provides grip strength to humans [15]. Anatomy of the Wrist Bones How are They Arranged The carpal bones in the human wrist are arranged in two rows – the proximal carpal row, articulating with the lower Carpal Bones Proximal Carpal Row (from the radial side to the ulnar side [5]) Distal Carpal Row (from the radial side to the ulnar side [5]) Scaphoid Trapezium Lunate Trapezoid Triquetrum Capitate Pisiform Hamate Understanding their Location The radial side means on the side of the radius bone, with the easiest way of remembering this being that the radius is located on the same side as the thumb [6]. So, the scaphoid being the first bone in the proximal row means it articulates with the radius. T...