lunate bone

Bone: Lunate bone
BONES OF HAND Proximal: A=Scaphoid, B=Lunate, C=Triquetral, D=Pisiform Distal: E=Trapezium, F=Trapezoid, G=Capitate, H=Hamate
The left lunate bone
Latin	os lunatum
Gray's	subject #54 224
Articulations	radius proximally capitate and hamate distally scaphoid laterally triangular medially
MeSH	Lunate+Bone

The lunate bone (semilunar bone) is a carpal bone (wrist bone) in the human hand that may be distinguished by its deep concavity and crescentic outline. It is situated in the center of the proximal row of the carpus (wrist) region between the fore arm and hand (manus). In standard medical posture, the lunate carpal bone is situated between the lateral Scaphoid bone and medial Triquetral bone. The lunate carpal bone straddles distally the bordering ulna and radius bones and proximally to distal carpus (wrist) Trapezium bone and Trapezoid bone.

The etymology of the Lunate bone derives from the Latin luna which means "moon", the lunate bone looks semi-similar to a crescent moon. In amphibians and reptiles, the bone is instead referred to as the intermedium, because of its position between the other two proximal carpals.

Surfaces

The superior surface, convex and smooth, articulates with the radius.

The inferior surface is deeply concave, and of greater extent from before backward than transversely: it articulates with the head of the capitate, and, by a long, narrow facet (separated by a ridge from the general surface), with the hamate.

The dorsal and palmar surfaces are rough, for the attachment of ligaments, the former being the broader, and of a somewhat rounded form.

The lateral surface presents a narrow, flattened, semilunar facet for articulation with the scaphoid.

The medial surface is marked by a smooth, quadrilateral facet, for articulation with the triangular bone.

Clinical relevance

The lunate bone is the most frequently dislocated carpal bone.

See also

• Bone terminology
• Terms for anatomical location

Additional images

Bones of the left hand. Volar surface.

Bones of the left hand. Dorsal surface.

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated.