The bones of the hand (ossa manus) include the carpal bones (ossa carpi), the metacarpals (ossa metacarpi) and the phalanges (phalanges/ossa digitorum).

Let us examine the carpal bones. These are 8 small bones forming two rows—a proximal carpal row and a distal carpal row. Each row contains 4 bones.

The bones of the proximal row are the following:

• Scaphoid (os scaphoideum)

  

• Lunate (os lunatum)

  

• Triquetrum (os triquetrum)

  

• Pisiform (os pisiforme)

  

  And now the bones of the distal row:

• Trapezium (os trapezium)

  

• Trapezoid (os trapezoideum)

  

• Capitate (os capitatum)

  

• Hamate (os hamatum) with a hook on it (hamulus ossis hamati)

  

  

• Sometimes there is an additional bone on the back surface — the os centrale (os centrale).

There are practically no special anatomical formations on the carpal bones that need to be mentioned separately. It is only worth noting the presence of articular surfaces for articulation with adjacent bones.

The only bone that is not directly connected to the others is the pisiform. It lies in the tendon of the flexor carpi unaris. Such bones (located in the thickness of the tendon) are called sesamoid bones.

The proximal carpal row is involved in the formation of the wrist joint.

Due to their location, the carpal bones form on the palmar surface the so-called carpal groove (sulcus carpi), in which the tendons of the flexor muscles are located. On the medial side it is bounded by the hook of the hamate and the pisiform, and on the lateral side by the tubercle of the scaphoid and the trapezium.

To memorize the names of the carpal bones, you can use the following mnemonic:

So (scaphoid) Long (lunate) To (triquetrum) Pinky (pisiform), Here (hamate) Comes (capitate) The (trapezoid) Thumb (trapezium)

Dictionary

Carpal bones

ossa manus

bones of hand

ossa carpi

carpal bones

ossa metacarpi

metacarpals

ossa digitorum/phalanges

phalanges

os scaphoideum

scaphoid

os lunatum

lunate

os triquetrum

triquetrum

os pisiforme

pisiform

os trapezium

trapezium

os trapezoideum

trapezoid

os capitatum

capitate

os hamatum

hamate

hamulus ossis hamati

hook of hamate bone

os centrale

os centrale

sulcus carpi

carpal groove