Wrist and Hand
Selene Bonnell-Hall
Bones
Ulna – forearm bone on pinkie side of hand or medial in anatomical position:
Head – medial side of distal portion of bone
Styloid process – pinkie side, lateral side of bone
Radius – forearm bone on thumb side or lateral in anatomical position:
Styloid process – lateral, distal end of bone
Ulnar notch – medial, distal portion of bone where the ulnar bone attaches
Wrist:
Trapezium – bone just proximal to 1st metacarpal (below thumb)
Trapezoid – bone just proximal to 2nd metacarpal (below index or pointer finger)
Capitate – bone just proximal to 3rd metacarpal (below middle finger)
Hamate – bone just proximal to the 4th and 5th metacarpal (below ring and pinky finger, respectively)
Scaphoid – bone proximal to both the trapezium and the trapezoid bones
Lunate – bone proximal to the capitate bone
Triquetrum – bone proximal to the scaphoid bone
Pisiform – round, pea-shaped bone on top of the triquetrum bone when hand is prone
Metacarpal bones:
Numbered 1 – 5 (thumb is #1)
Phalangeal bones:
Fingers numbered 1 – 5 (thumb is #1) Thumb only has a proximal and distal
Proximal
Middle (Intermediate)
Distal
Articular Capsule – A sac enclosing a joint, formed by an outer fibrous membrane and an inner synovial
membrane. Also called a joint capsule. (pg.489 good x-ray picture too)
Synovial membrane – a thin membrane in synovial (freely moving) joints that lines the joint capsule and
secretes synovial fluid.
Fibrous layer – the outer fibrous part of the capsule of a synovial joint.
Articular Cartilage – a type of hyaline connective tissue that covers articulating surfaces of bones within
synovial joints.
Joints – The area where two bones are attached for the purpose of permitting body parts to move. Usually
formed of fibrous connective tissue and cartilage.
Metacarpo-phalangeal joint (MP)
Proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP)
Distal interphalangeal joint (DIP)
Ligaments – A band of fibrous tissue connecting bones or cartilages, serving to support and strengthen joints.
Palmer aponeurosis (palmer fascia) – a sheet of fascia covering the muscles of the palm (pg. 461)
Flexor retinaculum – roof of carpel tunnel (pg. 463)
Extensor retinaculum – band across back of wrist (pg. 452)
Common flexor sheath – under transverse carpel ligament attaches to middle finger, ring finger, and
pinkie (pg. 463)
Compartments and Spaces – Compartments are areas which are enclosed by fascia or connective tissue and
contains muscles, blood vessels, nerves, etc. Spaces are the space within the compartments.
Hypothenar compartment – the area on hand along the outside of the little finger that contains the
hypothenar muscles (pg. 463)
Thenar compartment – the area on hand along the thumb side of hand that contains the thenar muscles
(pg. 463)
Central compartment – the area between the hypothenar and thenar compartments (pg. 461)
Adductor compartment – the deepest compartment of the palmer surface, between the thenar and
interosseous compartments. (pg. 462)
Interosseous compartment – the area in between the fingers (pgs. 464 – 465)
Thenar space and Midpalmer space – these spaces are deep in the palm muscles (pgs. 461 – 462)