Extensor compartments of the wrist
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Knipe H, Hacking C, Dieckmeyer M, et al. Extensor compartments of the wrist. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 21 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-23347
rID:
23347
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Craig Hacking had the following disclosures:
- Philips Australia, Paid speaker at Philips Spectral CT events (ongoing)
These were assessed during peer review and were determined to not be relevant to the changes that were made.
View Craig Hacking's current disclosures
Revisions:
13 times, by
9 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
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Synonyms:
- Extensor compartment of the wrist
The forearm extensor tendons pass under the extensor retinaculum at the level of the wrist. The ligament is divided into six extensor compartments, separated by fibrous septa passing to the bones of the forearm 2.
Summary
The compartments in order from radial to ulnar are:
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1st compartment:
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2nd compartment:
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3rd compartment (separated from compartment 2 by Lister's tubercle):
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4th compartment:
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5th compartment:
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6th compartment (runs in the groove of the ulnar head):
References
- 1. Timins ME, O'Connell SE, Erickson SJ et-al. MR imaging of the wrist: normal findings that may simulate disease. Radiographics. 1996;16 (5): 987-95. Radiographics (abstract) - Pubmed citation
- 2. Robert M. H. McMinn. Last's Anatomy. (2019) ISBN: 9780729543576 - Google Books
Incoming Links
Articles:
- Proximal intersection syndrome
- Distal intersection syndrome
- Posterior interosseous nerve
- Ultrasound of the wrist
- Tenosynovitis
- Extensor pollicis brevis muscle
- Proximal row carpectomy
- Extensor carpi radialis longus muscle
- De Quervain tenosynovitis
- Lister's tubercle
- Extensor carpi ulnaris muscle
- Extensor digiti minimi muscle
- Additional radial wrist extensor muscles
- Extensor pollicis longus muscle
- Wrist protocol (MRI)
- Extensor retinaculum (wrist)
- Extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle
- Extensor indicis muscle
- Radius
- Abductor pollicis longus muscle
Cases:
- Orthopedic hardware impingement - wrist extensor tendon
- Normal wrist extensor compartments US
- Extensor carpi ulnaris stenosing tenosynovitis
- De Quervain tenosynovitis with retinacular ganglia
- Boxer knuckle (ultrasound)
- Extensor pollicis longus tendon tear (MRI)
- Snapping wrist due to 3rd extensor compartment stenosing tenosynovitis
- Boxer knuckle (ultrasound)
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Reversed palmaris longus muscle
- Extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture
- Orthopedic hardware impingement - 1st extensor compartment of the wrist
- Extensor pollicis longus tendon tear
- Foreign body (hand)
- Extensor carpi radialis longus tendinosis (orthopedic hardware impingement)
- Extensor pollicis longus tendon tear
- Orthopaedic hardware induced tenosynovitis (wrist)
- Intratendinous ganglion - wrist
- Extensor pollicis longus tendon injury
- Dorsal scapholunate ganglion cyst
Multiple choice questions:
Related articles: Anatomy: Upper limb
-
skeleton of the upper limb
- clavicle
- scapula
- humerus
- radius
- ulna
- hand
- accessory ossicles of the upper limb
- accessory ossicles of the shoulder
- accessory ossicles of the elbow
-
accessory ossicles of the wrist (mnemonic)
- os centrale carpi
- os epilunate
- os epitriquetrum
- os styloideum
- os hamuli proprium
- lunula
- os triangulare
- trapezium secondarium
- os paratrapezium
- os radiostyloideum (persistent radial styloid)
- joints of the upper limb
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pectoral girdle
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shoulder joint
- articulations
- associated structures
- joint capsule
- bursae
- ligaments
- movements
- scapulothoracic joint
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glenohumeral joint
- arm flexion
- arm extension
- arm abduction
- arm adduction
- arm internal rotation (medial rotation)
- arm external rotation (lateral rotation)
- circumduction
- arterial supply - scapular anastomosis
- ossification centers
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shoulder joint
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elbow joint
- proximal radioulnar joint
- ligaments
- associated structures
- movements
- alignment
- arterial supply - elbow anastomosis
- development
-
wrist joint
- articulations
-
ligaments
- intrinsic ligaments
- extrinsic ligaments
- radioscaphoid ligament
- dorsal intercarpal ligament
- dorsal radiotriquetral ligament
- dorsal radioulnar ligament
- volar radioulnar ligament
- radioscaphocapitate ligament
- long radiolunate ligament
- Vickers ligament
- short radiolunate ligament
- ulnolunate ligament
- ulnotriquetral ligament
- ulnocapitate ligament
- ulnar collateral ligament
- associated structures
- extensor retinaculum
- flexor retinaculum
- joint capsule
- movements
- alignment
- ossification centers
-
hand joints
- articulations
- carpometacarpal joint
-
metacarpophalangeal joints
- palmar ligament (plate)
- collateral ligament
-
interphalangeal joints
- palmar ligament (plate)
- collateral ligament
- movements
- ossification centers
- articulations
-
pectoral girdle
- spaces of the upper limb
- muscles of the upper limb
- shoulder girdle
- anterior compartment of the arm
- posterior compartment of the arm
-
anterior compartment of the forearm
- superficial
- intermediate
- deep
-
posterior compartment of the forearm (extensors)
- superficial
- deep
- muscles of the hand
-
accessory muscles
- elbow
- volar wrist midline
- palmaris longus profundus
- aberrant palmaris longus
- volar wrist radial-side
- accessory flexor digitorum superficialis indicis
- flexor indicis profundus
- flexor carpi radialis vel profundus
- accessory head of the flexor pollicis longus (Gantzer muscle, common)
- volar wrist ulnar-side
- dorsal wrist
- blood supply to the upper limb
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arteries
- subclavian artery (mnemonic)
- axillary artery
- brachial artery (proximal portion)
- ulnar artery
- radial artery
- veins
-
arteries
- innervation of the upper limb
- intercostobrachial nerve
-
brachial plexus (mnemonic)
- branches from the roots
- branches from the trunks
- branches from the cords
- lateral cord
- posterior cord
- medial cord
- terminal branches
- lymphatic drainage of the upper limb