Palmar carpal ligament
Encyclopedia
The palmar carpal ligament (also volar carpal ligament) is a term that is often used in anatomy to describe the thickened portion of antebrachial fascia
on the anterior of the wrist. It is officially unnamed.
The palmar carpal ligament is a different structure than the flexor retinaculum of the hand
, but the two are frequently confused. The palmar carpal ligament lies superficial and proximal to the flexor retinaculum. The ulnar nerve
and the ulnar artery
run through the ulnar canal
, which is deep to the palmar carpal ligament and superficial to the flexor retinaculum
.
The palmar carpal ligament is continuous with the extensor retinaculum of the hand
, which is located on the posterior side of the wrist.
Antebrachial fascia
The antebrachial fascia continuous above with the brachial fascia, is a dense, membranous investment, which forms a general sheath for the muscles in this region; it is attached, behind, to the olecranon and dorsal border of the ulna, and gives off from its deep surface numerous intermuscular...
on the anterior of the wrist. It is officially unnamed.
The palmar carpal ligament is a different structure than the flexor retinaculum of the hand
Flexor retinaculum of the hand
The flexor retinaculum is a strong, fibrous band that arches over the carpus, converting the deep groove on the front of the carpal bones into a tunnel, the carpal tunnel, through which the Flexor tendons of the digits and the median nerve pass.It is attached, medially, to the pisiform and the...
, but the two are frequently confused. The palmar carpal ligament lies superficial and proximal to the flexor retinaculum. The ulnar nerve
Ulnar nerve
In human anatomy, the ulnar nerve is a nerve which runs near the ulna bone. The ulnar collateral ligament of elbow joint is in relation with the ulnar nerve. The nerve is the largest unprotected nerve in the human body , so injury is common...
and the ulnar artery
Ulnar artery
The ulnar artery is the main blood vessel, with oxygenated blood, of the medial aspect of the forearm. It arises from the brachial artery and terminates in the superficial palmar arch, which joins with the superficial branch of the radial artery...
run through the ulnar canal
Ulnar canal
The ulnar canal or ulnar tunnel, also called Guyon's canal, is a space at the wrist between the pisiform bone and the hamate bone through which the ulnar artery and the ulnar nerve travel into the hand.-Eponym:...
, which is deep to the palmar carpal ligament and superficial to the flexor retinaculum
Flexor retinaculum of the hand
The flexor retinaculum is a strong, fibrous band that arches over the carpus, converting the deep groove on the front of the carpal bones into a tunnel, the carpal tunnel, through which the Flexor tendons of the digits and the median nerve pass.It is attached, medially, to the pisiform and the...
.
The palmar carpal ligament is continuous with the extensor retinaculum of the hand
Extensor retinaculum of the hand
The extensor retinaculum is an anatomical term for the thickened part of the antebrachial fascia that holds the tendons of the extensor muscles in place. It is located on the back of the forearm, just proximal to the hand...
, which is located on the posterior side of the wrist.
See also
- Flexor retinaculum of the handFlexor retinaculum of the handThe flexor retinaculum is a strong, fibrous band that arches over the carpus, converting the deep groove on the front of the carpal bones into a tunnel, the carpal tunnel, through which the Flexor tendons of the digits and the median nerve pass.It is attached, medially, to the pisiform and the...
- Extensor retinaculum of the handExtensor retinaculum of the handThe extensor retinaculum is an anatomical term for the thickened part of the antebrachial fascia that holds the tendons of the extensor muscles in place. It is located on the back of the forearm, just proximal to the hand...
- Antebrachial fasciaAntebrachial fasciaThe antebrachial fascia continuous above with the brachial fascia, is a dense, membranous investment, which forms a general sheath for the muscles in this region; it is attached, behind, to the olecranon and dorsal border of the ulna, and gives off from its deep surface numerous intermuscular...