carpal

(noun)

Any of the eight bones of the wrist.

Related Terms

Examples of carpal in the following topics:

  • Carpals, Metacarpals, and Phalanges (The Hand)

    • Each hand consists of 27 bones, divided between the wrist bones (carpals), the palm bones (metacarpals), and the finger bones (phalanges).
    • Each one belongs to one of three regions: the carpals, (wrist), the metacarpals, (the palm), and the phalanges (the digits).
    • The eight, irregularly shaped carpals are the most proximal bones of the hand.
    • The pisiform carpal is a sesamoid bone, located within a tendon and is not involved in movement at the wrist.
    • The metacarpals connect the carpal bones of the wrist with the phalanges (finger bones).

  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

    • Carpal tunnel syndrome is an entrapment median neuropathy of the median nerve due to its compression at the wrist in the carpal tunnel.
    • Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is an entrapment median neuropathy, causing paresthesia, pain, numbness, and other symptoms in the distribution of the median nerve due to its compression at the wrist in the carpal tunnel .
    • Pain in carpal tunnel syndrome is primarily numbness that is so intense that it wakes one from sleep.
    • The only scientifically established disease modifying treatment is surgery to cut the transverse carpal ligament.
    • Carpal tunnel syndrome can be associated with any condition that causes pressure on the median nerve at the wrist.

  • Ulna and Radius (The Forearm)

    • The forearm contains two bones—the radius and the ulna—that extend in parallel from the elbow, where they articulate with the humerus to the wrist, where they articulate with the carpals.
    • Immediately adjacent to the ulnar notch, the radius articulates with the scaphoid and lunate carpal bones to form part of the wrist.

  • Types of Synovial Joints

    • Examples include the carpals of the wrist and the acromioclavicular joint.
    • The carpometacarpal or trapeziometacarpal joint of the thumb (between the metacarpal and carpal, the trapezium) and the sternoclavicular joint are examples of saddle joints.

  • The Appendicular Skeleton

    • Hands (54 bones) - Left and right carpals (16) (wrist), metacarpals (10), proximal phalanges (10), intermediate phalanges (8) and distal phalanges (10)
    • The base of the hand contains eight bones (carpal bones), and the palm is formed by five bones (metacarpal bones).

  • Muscles of the Wrist and Hand

    • Attachments - Originates from the humerus and ulna and attaches to one of the carpal bones in the wrist.
    • Attachments – Originates from the humerus and the radius, splitting into four tendons at the wrist which travel through the carpal tunnel and attach to the fingers.
    • Attachments - Originates from the ulna, splitting into four tendons at the wrist which travel through the carpal tunnel and attach distally to the fingers.
    • Attachments - Originates from the humerus, splitting into four tendons at the wrist which travel through the carpal tunnel and attach to the digits.

  • Overview of the Appendicular Skeleton

    • There are many constituents in the hand and wrist; the left and right carpals (16 bones in the wrist), Metacarpals (10 bones), Proximal phalanges (10 bones), Middle phalanges (eight bones), and Distal phalanges (10 bones).

  • Types of Synovial Joints

    • Planar joints are found in the carpal bones in the hand and the tarsal bones of the foot, as well as between vertebrae .
    • (c) The articulation between the trapezium carpal bone and the first metacarpal bone at the base of the thumb is a saddle joint.

  • Human Appendicular Skeleton

    • The radius and ulna also articulate with the carpal bones and with each other, which in vertebrates enables a variable degree of rotation of the carpus with respect to the long axis of the limb.

  • Movement at Synovial Joints

    • The joints of the carpal and tarsal bones are examples of joints that produce gliding movements.