The bones of the wrist are connected to the forearm by the wrist joint (articulatio radiocarpalis).

It is formed between:

• The carpal articular surface of the radius (facies articularis carpalis)

  

• The triangular articular disc (discus triangularis)

  

• The articular surfaces on the navicular, lunate and triquetrum bones (facies articularis ossis scaphoidei, ossis lunati et ossis triquetri).

  The joint capsule is attached along the edge of the articular surfaces.

  

  According to the classification, the joint is condylar, biaxial, complex, and combined (with the midcarpal joint (articulatio mediocarpalis))

  The following range of motions is possible in the joint:

• Around the frontal axis: flexion and extension

• Around the sagittal axis: abduction and adductio

• When shifting from the frontal axis to the sagittal, circumduction is carried out

  The fixing apparatus of the joint is composed of several ligaments:

• The radial collateral ligament of the wrist joint (ligamentum collaterale carpi radiale) is stretched between the styloid process of the radius and the navicular bone.

  

  

  

• The ulnar collateral ligament of the wrist joint (ligamentum collaterale carpi ulnare) is located between the styloid process of the ulna on one side, as well as the triquetrum and pisiform bones on the other side.

  

  

  

• The palmar radiocarpal ligament (ligamentum radiocarpale palmare) arises from the anterior edge of the articular surface of the radius and its separate bundles insert into the bones of the first row of the wrist and to the capitate bone.

  

  

• The dorsal radiocarpal ligament (ligamentum radiocarpale dorsale) arises from the radius and inserts into the first row of wrist bones.

  

  

  This joint has no additional structures.

  The following vessels and nerves take part in the blood supply and innervation of the elbow joint.

• Arteries: branches from the dorsal and palmar arterial plexuses of the wrist

• Veins: the blood outflows through the veins with the same name.

• Nerves: median nerve (n. medianus), ulnar nerve (n. ulnaris), radial nerve (n. radialis)

Dictionary

Radiocarpal (wrist) joint

wrist joint

articulatio radiocarpalis

radius

radius

scaphoid

os scaphoideum

lunate

os lunatum

triquetrum

os triquetrum

carpal articular surface of radius

facies carpalis radii

triangular fibrocartilage discus (TFC)

discus triangularis

radial articular surface of scaphoid, lunate,triquetrum

facies articularis radialis ossa scaphoideum,lunatum, triquetrum

midcarpal joint

articulatio mediocarpalis

radial collateral ligament of wrist joint

ligamentum collaterale carpi radiale

ulnar collateral ligament of wrist joint

ligamentum collaterale carpi ulnare

palmar radiocarpal ligament

ligamentum radiocarpale palmare

dorsal radiocarpal ligament

ligamentum radiocarpale dorsale