Wrist and Carpal Joints

Question 1

Wrist (radiocarpal) - Type

Answer 1

Condyloid synovial joint

Question 2

Wrist (radiocarpal) - Articulation

Answer 2

Distal end of radius and articular disc with proximal row of carpal bones (except pisiform).

Question 3

Wrist (radiocarpal) - Movement

Answer 3

Flexion-extension, abduction-adduction, circumduction.

Question 4

Carpal (intercarpal) - Type

Answer 4

Plane synovial joint

Question 5

Carpal (intercarpal) - Articulation

Answer 5

Between carpal bones of proximal row; joints between carpal bones of distal row.

• Midcarpal joint: synovial joint between proximal and distal rows of carpal bones.
• Pisiform Joint: Synovial Joint between pisiform and triquetrum.

Question 6

Carpal (intercarpal) - Movement

Answer 6

Small amount of gliding movement possible; Flexion and abduction of hand occur at midcarpal joint.

Question 7

Carpometacarpal (CMC) and Intermetacarpal (IM) - Type

Answer 7

Plane synovial joints, except for CMC of thumb (saddle-shaped synovial joint).

Question 8

Carpometacarpal (CMC) and Intermetacarpal (IM) - Articulation

Answer 8

Carpals and metacarpals with each other; CMC joint of thumb between trapzium and base of 1st metacarpal.

Question 9

Carpometacarpal (CMC) and Intermetacarpal (IM) - Movement

Answer 9

Flexion-extension and abduction-adduction of CMC joint of 1st digit; almost no movement at 2nd and 3rd digits; 4th digit slightly moveable; 5th digit very mobile.