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ANATOMY OF THE WRIST AND FOREARM
The
forearm is located between the elbow and the wrist and consists
of the radius (located on the lateral side) and the ulna (located
on the medial side). Even though the radius is shorter than the
ulna, it contributes more to the movement of the hand and wrist
than the ulna. The eight carpal bones that form the carpal "tunnel"
are located between the forearm and the hand in the wrist and allow
for the various motions of the wrist. Because the wrist is anatomically
complex, it is subject to several types of injuries. Wrist motion
is controlled by muscles and tendons located at the forearm. Stability
is provided by ligaments located across the carpus.
A
total of twenty-seven bones, joints and soft tissues such as muscles,
ligaments and tendons make up the hand and wrist. In the hand there
is a complete system of fingers and thumb, all with multiple joints,
muscles and tendons. Five metacarpal bones make up the body of the
hand and eight carpal bones make up the wrist. The thumb has two
jointed bones called the phalanges and all other fingers have three
jointed bones.
The fingers and thumb are straightened and the hand is raised by
the help of the extensor tendons while flexor tendons help bend
the fingers, thumb and hand. These tendons are surrounded, protected
and guided by tendon sheaths. These tendons pass through the carpal
tunnel channel, which is formed by the wrist bones and covered by
the transverse carpal ligament. Passing through the carpal tunnel
channel is also the median nerve. The median nerve supplies feeling
to the thumb, index and middle fingers.


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