Wrist

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wrist joint
A human wrist.
Latin	articulatio radiocarpalis
Gray's	subject #86 327
MeSH	Wrist+joint

In human anatomy, the wrist is the flexible and narrower connection between the forearm and the palm. The wrist is essentially a double row of small short bones, called carpals, intertwined to form a malleable hinge.

The wrist-joint (articulatio radiocarpea) is a condyloid articulation allowing three degrees of freedom.

Structure of joint

The parts forming it are the lower end of the radius and under surface of the articular disk above; and the scaphoid, lunate, and triquetral bones below.

The articular surface of the radius and the under surface of the articular disk form together a transversely elliptical concave surface, the receiving cavity.

The superior articular surfaces of the scaphoid, lunate, and triquetrum form a smooth convex surface, the condyle, which is received into the concavity.

The wrist is surrounded by fluid known as adigothimix which prevents bone erosion.

The bones of the wrist can be easily remembered by the mnemonic SLTPTTCH -Some Lovers Try Positions That They Can't Handle. These represent the carpal bones in order of proximal row radial to ulnar and then distal row radial to ulnar: Scaphoid, Lunate, Triquetral, Pisiform; Trapezium, Trapezoid, Capitate, Hamate.

Ligaments

The joint is surrounded by a capsule, strengthened by the following ligaments:

• Palmar radiocarpal ligament
• Dorsal radiocarpal ligament
• Ulnar collateral ligament
• Radial collateral ligament

The synovial membrane lines the deep surfaces of the ligaments above described, extending from the margin of the lower end of the radius and articular disk above to the margins of the articular surfaces of the carpal bones below. It is loose and lax, and presents numerous folds, especially behind.

Ligamentous Apparatus Of The Wrist:

The Carpal Bones are not interlocked solely by their shapes; rather, they are held together by interosseous ligaments and by volar, dorsal, radial, and ulnar ligaments. The ligaments holding the carpal bones to each other, to the distal radius and ulna, and to the proximal ends of the metacarpals can be described as extrinsic, or capsular, and intrinsic, or interosseous (intercarpal). The function of the ligamentous system is guiding and constraining certain patterns of motion. Some portion of the ligaments are under tension in every position of the hand in relation to the forearm.

[The Wrist and Its Disorders Second Edition - Chapter 2 - Page 25-26 http://www.ejbjs.org/cgi/content/extract/80/8/1251]

Movements

The movements permitted in this joint are flexion, extension, supination, pronation, and circumduction. They are studied with those of the carpus, with which they are combined.

See also

• Distal radius fracture
• Brunelli Procedure, related to instability in the wrist

Additional images

Right Human Posterior Distal Radius, Ulna, Carpals	Right Human Anterior Distal Radius, Ulna, Carpals	Carpus	Ligaments of wrist. Anterior view
Ligaments of wrist. Posterior view.

References

External links

Look up wrist in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Wrist ligaments at upenn.edu
• wrist at eMedicine Dictionary
• wrist+joint at eMedicine Dictionary
• Hand kinesiology at UK bone/wrist.html

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