Wrist (region)
From Ganfyd
The wrist as an area consists of the following components:
- Distal radius
- Distal ulna
- Wrist joint
- Carpal bones
Also various ligaments, tendons and other soft tissue components.
Several features exist in the wrist region:
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Movements of the wrist
Movements of the wrist are a composite between the wrist joint and intercarpal joints.
The wrist joint itself is capable of the following movements:
- Flexion
- Extension
- Abduction
- Adduction.
In addition these movements combine to create the motion of circumduction.
The midcarpal joint (and associated minor movements of the intercarpal joints) allows additional movement when the limits of wrist movement are reached. The capitate may flex or extend at the midcarpal joint. Abduction may also be facilitated by more complex midcarpal movements.
Muscles acting around the wrist
Flexion
- Flexor carpi radialis (major flexor)
- Flexor carpi ulnaris (major flexor)
- Palmaris longus
- Abductor pollicis longus
- Flexor digitorum profundus
- Flexor digitorum superficialis
- Flexor pollicis longus
Extension
- Extensor carpi radialis longus (major extensor)
- Extensor carpi radialis brevis (major extensor)
- Extensor carpi ulnaris (major extensor)
- Extensor digitorum
- Extensor pollicisi longus
- Extensor indicis
- Extensor digiti minimi
Abduction
- Extensor carpi radialis longus (major abductor)
- Extensor carpi radialis brevis (major abductor)
- Flexor carpi radialis (major abductor)
- Abductor pollicis longus
- Extensor pollicis brevis
- Extensor pollicis longus
