Angle down

Wrist and carpal tunnel

Written by , Evelin Mercedes Maza Guia is a physician from the University of Oriente in Anzoátegui, Venezuela.

In this issue

  • The wrist
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome

Learning on the go!

The goal of this newsletter is to provide you with enough information to be useful, but not more than can be learned within the busy schedule of a health care worker. You’ll find anatomy charts, additional vocabulary, occasional feedback from subscribers, and more! Feel free to read them now and save them for later use such as with a patient or as a study guide for coursework.

anatomy of the wrist

Carpal bones — huesos del carpo

  1. Wrist/carpus
  2. Trapezoid bone
  3. Trapezium bone
  4. Scaphoid bone
  5. Capitate bone
  6. Hamate bone
  7. Pisiform bone
  8. Triquetrum bone
  9. Lunate bone
  10. Radius
  11. Ulna
  12. Carpal tunnel syndrome
  13. Median nerve
  14. Compressed nerve
  15. Transverse carpal ligament
  16. Flexor tendons of the fingers
  1. Muñeca/carpo
  2. Hueso trapezoide
  3. Hueso trapecio
  4. Hueso escafoides
  5. Hueso grande
  6. Hueso ganchoso o hamato
  7. Hueso pisiforme
  8. Hueso piramidal
  9. Hueso semilunar
  10. Radio
  11. Cúbito o ulna
  12. Síndrome del túnel carpiano
  13. Nervio mediano
  14. Compresión nerviosa
  15. Ligamento retináculo flexor
  16. Tendones de los músculos flexores de los dedos
wrist with carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome — síndrome del túnel carpiano

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve is compressed within the carpal tunnel. The carpal tunnel, a narrow, rigid passageway of ligaments and bones at the base of the hand, contains the finger flexor tendons and the median nerve. The thickening of irritated tendons or other swelling narrows the tunnel and causes the median nerve to be compressed. The result may be pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up the arm.

El síndrome del túnel carpiano se produce cuando el nervio mediano se comprime en el túnel carpiano. El túnel carpiano, un pasadizo estrecho y rígido de ligamento y huesos en la base de la mano, contiene los tendones flexores de los dedos y el nervio mediano. El engrosamiento de tendones irritados u otra inflamación estrecha el túnel y causa que se comprima el nervio mediano. El resultado puede ser dolor, debilidad, o entumecimiento en la mano y la muñeca, que se irradia por el brazo.


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