The Complexity of the Human Wrist – Joint, Bone and Ligament

The area defined as the wrist is one of the most complex regions of the human body and in turn contains one of the most complicated joints in the human body.

Within the wrist, it is the joint that allows our hands to move in so many ways and directions. This joint must be flexible enough and strong enough to account for a vast range of motion and for the ability of gripping, lifting and turning objects, some of which are heavy.

The foundation of this part of the anatomy is comprised of the following: The carpal bones, of which there are eight, form the proximal skeletal segment of the hand. The radiocarpal joint, more commonly known as the wrist joint, is located between the radius and the carpal bones. The area surrounding the carpal bones, which contains parts of the bones of the forearm and parts of the matacarpal bones and corresponding joints forms the final piece of the puzzle that is the human wrist.

Now, maybe you are beginning to get a picture of the complexity of this region of the body; and we haven’t even discussed another important structure, the wrist ligament, of which there are many. The ligaments (soft tissue structures) combine to form a watertight sac or capsule around the joints. Contained in the sac is a lubricating fluid called synovial fluid. This type capsule surrounds all eight carpal bones; thus this gives you an idea of the abundance of this soft tissue. This ligament is a vital part of the system.

We’ve discussed bones and joints and ligaments and still there is more. Within the joint is an advanced connection of nerves, muscles and blood vessels.

The next time you throw a ball or lift a heavy object take a moment to appreciate what allows you to complete these tasks.