Midcarpal joint
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
At the time the article was created Rishabh Verma had no recorded disclosures.
View Rishabh Verma's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised David Duong had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View David Duong's current disclosuresThe midcarpal joint is a functional compound synovial joint in the wrist between the scaphoid, lunate and triquetrum proximally and the trapezium, trapezoid, capitate and hamate distally.
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Summary
complex joint between the proximal and distal carpal bones of the wrist
permits flexion, extension, adduction and abduction of the wrist
receives vascular supply from posterior carpal branches of the radial and ulnar artery and the anterior interosseous artery
Gross anatomy
The midcarpal joint, as implied by the name, is present between the proximal and distal carpal bones of the wrist. It is formed of two saddle joints; first between the capitate, hamate and scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, second between trapezium, trapezoid and scaphoid 1.
Movement
The joint, although consisting of two saddle joints, is itself a condylar joint implying movement in two planes: flexion/extension and abduction/adduction of the wrist. It is the primary joint involved in radial and ulnar deviation of the wrist 2.
Carpometacarpal joint of the medial four metacarpals communicates with midcarpal bones in a single synovial cavity 3.
Ligaments
The midcarpal joint is stabilized by the palmar and dorsal midcarpal ligaments.
Blood supply
The midcarpal joint receives vascular supply from posterior carpal branches of the radial and ulnar artery and the anterior interosseous artery (branch of the ulnar artery) 1.
Innervation
The innervation for the midcarpal joint comes from the deep terminal branch of the ulnar nerve and the anterior interosseous branch of the median nerve. The posterior interosseous branch of the radial nerve may also be involved 1.
Related pathology
References
- 1. Susan Standring. Gray's Anatomy. The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 40th Edition.
- 2. Kaufmann R, Pfaeffle J, Blankenhorn B, Stabile K, Robertson D, Goitz R. Kinematics of the midcarpal and radiocarpal joints in radioulnar deviation: an in vitro study. (2005) The Journal of hand surgery. 30 (5): 937-42. doi:10.1016/j.jhsa.2005.05.016 - Pubmed
- 3. Stephanie Ryan, Michelle McNicholas, Stephen J. Eustace. Anatomy for Diagnostic Imaging. (2011) ISBN: 9780702029714 - Google Books
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