Lunotriquetral ligament

Last revised by Henry Knipe on 1 Nov 2022

The lunotriquetral ligament joins the lunate and triquetrum of the carpals.

Gross anatomy

The lunotriquetral ligament arises from the volar aspect of the distal lunate and triangular fibrocartilage to distally attach to the medial margin of the hamate. Similar to the scapholunate ligament, it has three portions – volar, proximal and dorsal bands.

Dorsal component
  • less flexible than the scapholunate ligament

  • limits the amount of dorsiflexion between the lunate and triquetrum

Volar component
  • important component contributing to carpal stability

  • limits triquetral extension

  • thickest portion (2-2.5 mm) 3

  • linear in shape

  • runs parallel to the space between the lunate and triquetrum 

  • some fibers are joined by the volar ulnolunate ligament 

Proximal component
  • triangular in shape with the apex directed distally

  • some fibers are joined by the superficial fibers of the volar radiolunate ligament

Related pathology

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