The joint complex between the hand and the forearm, made up of eight small carpal bones and several joint surfaces.
Structure
The wrist contains eight carpal bones arranged in two rows of four, plus the joints they form with the radius and with the metacarpals. Tough ligaments bind the carpals together.
Function
The radiocarpal and midcarpal joints together allow flexion, extension, and side-to-side movement, while the distal radioulnar joint adds the rotation needed for palm-up and palm-down motions.
Clinical note
The wrist is a frequent site of fractures from falls onto outstretched hands, and the median nerve can be compressed here in carpal tunnel syndrome.
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