Wrist Anatomy

Inferior / Distal Radio-Ulna Joint

Medial to head of ulna
2/3 from radial side
Joint line 1cm long head of ulna articulates distally with triangular fibrocartilage

Radiocarpal Joint

Middle skin crease
Joint line concave inferiorly between styloid processes (radial most distal)

The Carpus

Scaphoid make the floor of the anatomical snuffbox (snuffbox bound radially by APL and EPB and ulnarly by EPL)
Trapezium articulates distally with scaphoid along the axis of the thumb
Trapezoid lies in line with the index finger
With the wrist in ulna deviation it is possible to palpate the scapholunate joint which is radial to a notch called the ‘crucifixion notch’
Capitate is the size of a thumb nail. When the wrist is in flexion, the neck of capitate is the most prominent feature of the wrist. It lies proximal to the 3rd metacarpal and articulates with the 3rd metacarpal, lunate, hamate and trapezoid
Between capitate and trapezoid is the styloid process of the 3rd metacarpal where ECRB inserts
Moving distally along the ulna border of the wrist, the ulna styloid process, triquetral, hamate and the base of the 5th metacarpal can be felt
In radial deviation the luno-triquetral joint is palpable
The notch immediately distal to the ulna styloid is the ‘ulna snuffbox’ bound by ECU and FCU running posteriorly and anteriorly over the ulna at the wrist. In radial deviation the floor is formed by triquetral in ulna deviation by the joint between triquetral and hamate.

Flexor Retinaculum Width of thumb
Proximal extent marked by distal wrist crease
Bony attachments:
Pisiform
Scaphoid tubercle
Hook of Hamate
Ridge of Trapezium

Anterior Aspect of Wrist

Radial to Ulna