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Wrist



 
 
In human anatomy
Human anatomy

Human anatomy, which, with physiology and biochemistry, is a complementary basic medical science is primarily the scientific study of the morphology of the adult human body....
, the wrist is the flexible and narrower connection between the forearm
Forearm

The forearm is the structure on the upper limb, between the Elbow-joint and the wrist.. This term is used in anatomy to distinguish it from the arm ....
 and the palm
Hand

The hands are the two intricate, prehensile, multi-fingered body parts normally located at the end of each arm of a human or other primate. They are the chief organs for physically manipulating the environment, using anywhere from the roughest motor skills to the finest , and since the fingertips contain some of the densest areas of nerve e...
. 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.

parts forming it are the lower end of the radius
Radius (bone)

The radius is the bone of the forearm that extends from the lateral side of the Elbow-joint to the thumb side of the wrist. The radius is situated on the lateral side of the ulna, which exceeds it in length and size....
 and under surface of the articular disk
Articular disk

The articular disk is a thin, oval plate of fibrocartilage present in several joints which separates synovial cavities. This separation of the cavity space allows for separate movements to occur in each space....
 above; and the scaphoid, lunate
Lunate bone

The lunate bone is a carpal 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, or wrist, between the scaphoid and triangular bone....
, and triquetral bones below.

The articular surface of the radius and the under surface of the articular disk
Articular disk

The articular disk is a thin, oval plate of fibrocartilage present in several joints which separates synovial cavities. This separation of the cavity space allows for separate movements to occur in each space....
 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
Condyle

A Condyle is the knuckle of any joint, a round projection, rounded articular area one of the markings/features of bones, can refer to:* Lateral condyle Femur and Tibia...
, 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
Mnemonic

A mnemonic device is a memory aid. Commonly met mnemonics are often verbal, something such as a very short poem or a special word used to help a person remember something, particularly lists, but may be visual, kinesthetic or auditory....
 SLTPTTCH -Some Lovers Try Positions That They Can't Handle.






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In human anatomy
Human anatomy

Human anatomy, which, with physiology and biochemistry, is a complementary basic medical science is primarily the scientific study of the morphology of the adult human body....
, the wrist is the flexible and narrower connection between the forearm
Forearm

The forearm is the structure on the upper limb, between the Elbow-joint and the wrist.. This term is used in anatomy to distinguish it from the arm ....
 and the palm
Hand

The hands are the two intricate, prehensile, multi-fingered body parts normally located at the end of each arm of a human or other primate. They are the chief organs for physically manipulating the environment, using anywhere from the roughest motor skills to the finest , and since the fingertips contain some of the densest areas of nerve e...
. 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
Radius (bone)

The radius is the bone of the forearm that extends from the lateral side of the Elbow-joint to the thumb side of the wrist. The radius is situated on the lateral side of the ulna, which exceeds it in length and size....
 and under surface of the articular disk
Articular disk

The articular disk is a thin, oval plate of fibrocartilage present in several joints which separates synovial cavities. This separation of the cavity space allows for separate movements to occur in each space....
 above; and the scaphoid, lunate
Lunate bone

The lunate bone is a carpal 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, or wrist, between the scaphoid and triangular bone....
, and triquetral bones below.

The articular surface of the radius and the under surface of the articular disk
Articular disk

The articular disk is a thin, oval plate of fibrocartilage present in several joints which separates synovial cavities. This separation of the cavity space allows for separate movements to occur in each space....
 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
Condyle

A Condyle is the knuckle of any joint, a round projection, rounded articular area one of the markings/features of bones, can refer to:* Lateral condyle Femur and Tibia...
, 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
Mnemonic

A mnemonic device is a memory aid. Commonly met mnemonics are often verbal, something such as a very short poem or a special word used to help a person remember something, particularly lists, but may be visual, kinesthetic or auditory....
 SLTPTTCH -Some Lovers Try Positions That They Can't Handle. These represent the left-hand 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 ligament
Ligament

Ligaments connect bone to bone. In anatomy, the term ligament is used to denote three different types of structures:# Fibrous Tissue that connects bones to other bones....
s:

  • Palmar radiocarpal ligament
  • Dorsal radiocarpal ligament
    Dorsal radiocarpal ligament

    The dorsal radiocarpal ligament less thick and strong than the volar, is attached, above, to the posterior border of the lower end of the radius; its fibers are directed obliquely downward and medialward, and are fixed, below, to the dorsal surfaces of the navicular , lunate, and triangular, being continuous with those of the dorsal intercar...
  • Ulnar collateral ligament (wrist)
    Ulnar collateral ligament (wrist)

    The ulnar collateral ligament is a rounded cord, attached above to the end of the Ulnar styloid process of the ulna, and dividing below into two fasciculi, one of which is attached to the medial side of the triangular bone, the other to the pisiform and transverse carpal ligament....
  • Radial collateral ligament (wrist)
    Radial collateral ligament (wrist)

    The radial collateral carpal ligament attaches to the styloid process of the radius and the radial side of the scaphoid bone....


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
Anatomical terms of location

Standard anatomical terms of location are employed in sciences dealing with the anatomy of animals to avoid ambiguities which might otherwise arise....
 permitted in this joint are flexion
Flexion

In anatomy, flexion is a position that is made possible by the joint angle decreasing. The skeletal and muscular systems work together to move the joint into a "flexed" position....
, extension
Extension

Extension may refer to:* A List of cheerleading stunts* The building of community capacity by outsiders, for instance agricultural extension* Extension , relating to the pulling apart of the Earth's crust and lithosphere...
, abduction
Anatomical terms of location

Standard anatomical terms of location are employed in sciences dealing with the anatomy of animals to avoid ambiguities which might otherwise arise....
, adduction
Adduction

Adduction is a movement which brings a limb ? arm or leg ? closer to the Sagittal#Planes of the body. It is opposed to abduction .This term is also used in reference to the operation of the muscle in anatomy or musculature....
, and circumduction
Circumduction

Circumduction may refer to:* Circumduction , the circular movement of a limb* Circumduction , an ambiguous or roundabout figure of speech...
. They are studied with those of the carpus
Carpus

In tetrapods, the carpals is the sole cluster of the bones in the wrist between the radius and ulna and the metacarpus. The bones of the carpus do not belong to individual fingers , whereas those of the metacarpus do....
, with which they are combined.

See also

  • Distal radius fracture
    Distal radius fracture

    A distal radius fracture is a common fracture of the radius in the forearm. Because of its proximity to the wrist, this injury is often called a wrist fracture....
  • Brunelli Procedure
    Brunelli Procedure

    The Brunelli Procedure is a surgical procedure that can be used to correct instability in the wrist. Instability in the wrist can be caused by a torn Scapholunate ligament....
    , related to instability in the wrist


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