The anatomy of the ligaments of the wrist and distal radioulnar joints. 2001

R A Berger
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic/Mayo Foundation/Graduate School of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.

The ligaments of the wrist are responsible for guiding and constraining the complex motion of the carpal bones relative to the forearm bones, the metacarpals, and contiguous carpal bones. The majority of wrist ligaments are found within the joint capsule as organized thickenings composed of parallel collagen fascicles, small caliber nerves and blood vessels, and lined on their deep surfaces by synoviocytes. The palmar radiocarpal ligament complex is composed of the radioscaphocapitate, long radiolunate, radioscapholunate and short radiolunate ligaments. The ulnocarpal ligaments include the ulnolunate, ulnotriquetral and ulnocapitate ligaments. Dorsally, the radiocarpal joint is spanned by the dorsal radiocarpal ligament. Palmar ligaments connecting the proximal and distal carpal rows include the scaphotrapeziotrapezoid, scaphocapitate, triquetrocapitate and triquetrohamate ligaments. Within each row are interosseous ligaments connecting adjacent carpal bones, each divisible into dorsal and palmar components. There are unique regions within some of the ligaments, such as a zone of fibrocartilage in the proximal regions of the scapholunate and lunotriquetral interosseous ligaments, and strong deep regions connecting the trapezoid, capitate, and hamate. The distal radioulnar joint is connected by the triangular fibrocartilage complex, composed of a fibrocartilaginous disc and the palmar and dorsal radioulnar ligaments. The ulnocarpal ligaments attach to the palmar radioulnar ligament rather than directly to the ulna, allowing increased independence between wrist and forearm motion.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008023 Ligaments, Articular Fibrous cords of CONNECTIVE TISSUE that attach bones to each other and hold together the many types of joints in the body. Articular ligaments are strong, elastic, and allow movement in only specific directions, depending on the individual joint. Articular Ligament,Articular Ligaments,Ligament, Articular
D011884 Radius The outer shorter of the two bones of the FOREARM, lying parallel to the ULNA and partially revolving around it. Radial Tuberosity,Radial Tuberosities,Tuberosities, Radial,Tuberosity, Radial
D005542 Forearm Part of the upper extremity in humans and primates extending from the ELBOW to the WRIST. Antebrachium,Antebrachiums,Forearms
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014457 Ulna The inner and longer bone of the FOREARM. Semilunar Notch,Trochlear Notch,Ulnar Coronoid Process,Ulnar Trochlear Groove,Coronoid Process, Ulnar,Semilunar Notchs,Trochlear Groove, Ulnar,Trochlear Notchs,Ulnar Coronoid Processes,Ulnar Trochlear Grooves,Ulnas
D014955 Wrist Joint The joint that is formed by the distal end of the RADIUS, the articular disc of the distal radioulnar joint, and the proximal row of CARPAL BONES; (SCAPHOID BONE; LUNATE BONE; triquetral bone). Joint, Wrist,Joints, Wrist,Wrist Joints

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