Anatomy Bones and Muscles · MU Pleven

17. Wrist joint

Covers the wrist joints, starting with the radiocarpal joint: its ellipsoid type and two axes of movement, the bones and disc that articulate, and its four ligaments with what each restricts. It then lists the muscles producing each movement, the anterior, posterior, medial and lateral relations, the blood and nerve supply, and briefly describes the midcarpal, intercarpal and carpometacarpal joints of digits II to V.

Inside: 5 sections · 3 labelled pictures · 12 flashcards · 2 min

Topic 17 of 236 in the MU Pleven syllabus for Anatomy Bones and Muscles (Medicine, Year 2). The free AceMed note covers it in 5 sections, about 252 words (2 min of reading), with 12 flashcards.

In this note

  1. Wrist joints.
  2. Radiocarpal Joint (Main Wrist Joint)
  3. Midcarpal Joint
  4. Intercarpal Joints
  5. Carpometacarpal (CMC) Joints of Digits II–V

Radiocarpal Joint (Main Wrist Joint)

Type

  • Ellipsoid synovial joint (condyloid type).
  • Allows movements in 2 axes (flexion–extension, abduction–adduction).

Articulating Surfaces

  • Proximal (above): distal end of radius + articular disc of inferior radioulnar joint.
  • Distal (below): proximal row of carpal bones (scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum). (Pisiform does not participate).

Joint Capsule

  • Loose and thin, reinforced by ligaments.

Ligaments

  1. 1. Palmar radiocarpal ligament → radius → carpal bones (strong, checks extension).
  2. 2. Dorsal radiocarpal ligament → radius → carpal bones (checks flexion).
  3. 3. Radial collateral ligament → radial styloid → scaphoid (checks ulnar deviation).
  4. 4. Ulnar collateral ligament → ulnar styloid → triquetrum + pisiform (checks radial deviation).

Movements

  • Flexion: flexor carpi radialis, flexor carpi ulnaris.
  • Extension: extensor carpi radialis longus & brevis, extensor carpi ulnaris.
  • Abduction (radial deviation): flexor carpi radialis, extensor carpi radialis longus & brevis.
  • Adduction (ulnar deviation): flexor carpi ulnaris, extensor carpi ulnaris.
  • Circumduction: combination of above.

Relations

  • Anterior: tendons of flexors, median nerve, radial artery.
  • Posterior: extensor tendons.
  • Medial: ulnar nerve & artery.
  • Lateral: radial styloid, radial artery.

Blood Supply

  • Dorsal & palmar carpal branches of radial and ulnar arteries.

Nerve Supply

  • Anterior interosseous nerve (median), posterior interosseous nerve (radial), deep branch of ulnar nerve

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