What is the wrist joint?
The wrist is a two-part joint: The upper part is an articulated connection between the forearm bone radius and the three carpal bones scaphoid, lunate and triangular. An interarticular disc (discus triangularis) between the radius and ulna (the second forearm bone) is also involved. The ulna itself is not connected to the carpal bones, nor is the pea bone, which together with the navicular, lunate and triangular bones forms the upper row of carpal bones. This also explains why, in the event of a fall on the hand, the radius usually breaks, but not the ulna.
Numerous ligaments stabilize the joint and many tendons make the movements possible. Some of the tendons pull from the forearm to the wrist, others to the fingers. The important nerves that supply the palm and fingers also pass through the strong wrist ligament: the ulnar nerve, the radial nerve and the median nerve.
What is the function of the wrist?
Where is the wrist located?
The wrist is the articulated connection between the forearm (with ulna and radius) and the hand.
What problems can the wrist cause?
Wrist fracture (distal radius fracture) is a very common type of bone fracture. The cause is usually a fall that you try to break with your hand.
Also widespread is tendonitis in the area of the wrist. It develops due to chronic overuse of the tendons, for example during computer work, sports (tennis, golf, climbing, etc.), playing music (guitar, piano, etc.) or frequent gardening.
In carpal tunnel syndrome, the middle arm nerve (median nerve) is constricted in the narrow passage at the wrist.
